{"product_id":"products-pre-loved-victorian-9ct-yellow-gold-carved-shell-cameo-brooch-circa-1860","title":"Pre-Loved 9ct Yellow Gold Carved Shell Cameo Brooch Hallmarked 375 - 6.85g Circa 1860","description":"\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThere are pieces of jewellery, and then there are pieces of history. This extraordinary 9ct yellow gold carved shell cameo brooch dates to circa 1860 — the height of the Victorian era, a period during which the cameo brooch reigned supreme as the most coveted and fashionable jewel a woman could wear. Queen Victoria herself was devoted to cameos, wearing them throughout her reign and cementing their status as the jewellery of refinement, education and taste. To own a Victorian cameo of this quality is to hold something genuinely irreplaceable — a piece of wearable art that has survived over 160 years and remains as breathtakingly beautiful today as the day it was made.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe cameo itself is carved from natural shell with extraordinary skill and precision. The subject is a classical female bust in profile — her hair elaborately dressed in the style of a Roman goddess, tumbling curls pinned with roses and flowers, every ringlet and petal rendered with the kind of microscopic detail that only a master carver working by hand could achieve. The warm honey-brown of the shell ground sets off the creamy white of the carved relief perfectly, the contrast between the two layers of the shell giving the portrait an almost three-dimensional quality that photographs cannot fully capture. The figure gazes to the right with serene composure, her draped garment falling from her shoulders in soft folds — classical, poised and utterly timeless.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe brooch is set in a 9ct yellow gold mount with a beautifully detailed plaited rope border running the full circumference — a signature of fine Victorian goldsmithing, adding texture and elegance to the frame without ever competing with the cameo it holds. The reverse shows the original gold pin fitting with a safety chain and secondary pin clasp — a feature typical of high-quality Victorian brooches, designed to ensure the piece was never lost. The back of the mount retains its original textured finish, warm and characterful with the honest patina of age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eAt 6.85g this is a brooch of genuine substance — large, commanding and made to be noticed. Worn on a lapel, a coat, a scarf or a gown, it makes a statement that no modern piece could replicate. This is not costume jewellery. This is not reproduction. This is a genuine Victorian antique, over 160 years old, made by hand from natural shell and solid gold, and it is exceptional.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eIt arrives in excellent antique condition, the carving crisp and detailed throughout, the gold warm and bright, the pin mechanism functioning correctly. Beautifully gift wrapped and ready for its next chapter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct Details:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"overflow-x-auto w-full px-2 mb-6\"\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"min-w-full border-collapse text-sm leading-[1.7] whitespace-normal\"\u003e\n\u003cthead class=\"text-left\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"col\" class=\"text-text-100 border-b-0.5 border-border-300\/60 py-2 pr-4 align-top font-bold\"\u003e\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"col\" class=\"text-text-100 border-b-0.5 border-border-300\/60 py-2 pr-4 align-top font-bold\"\u003e\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-border-300\/30 py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMetal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-border-300\/30 py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e9ct Yellow Gold\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-border-300\/30 py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePurity\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-border-300\/30 py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e375 (9ct)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-border-300\/30 py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeight\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-border-300\/30 py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e6.85g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-border-300\/30 py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStyle\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-border-300\/30 py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eOval Cameo Brooch\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-border-300\/30 py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCameo Material\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-border-300\/30 py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eNatural Carved Shell\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-border-300\/30 py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSubject\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-border-300\/30 py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eClassical Female Bust in Profile\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-border-300\/30 py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrame Detail\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-border-300\/30 py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003ePlaited Rope Border\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-border-300\/30 py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFastening\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-border-300\/30 py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eGold Pin with Safety Chain \u0026amp; Secondary Clasp\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-border-300\/30 py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEra\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-border-300\/30 py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eVictorian, Circa 1860\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-border-300\/30 py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-border-300\/30 py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eExcellent Antique\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFAQ:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this real gold?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes. This brooch is set in genuine 9ct yellow gold, hallmarked 375 — 37.5% pure gold, the standard of British fine jewellery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs the cameo real?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — this is a genuine hand-carved natural shell cameo, not a moulded, printed or synthetic reproduction. The carving is executed by hand directly into the layered shell, using the natural colour contrast between the layers to create the relief portrait. You can see the individuality of the hand carving in the fine detail of the hair and drapery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow old is this piece?\u003c\/strong\u003e This brooch dates to circa 1860, placing it firmly in the Victorian era — over 160 years old. It is a genuine antique, not a vintage reproduction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy were cameos so popular in the Victorian era?\u003c\/strong\u003e Cameos enjoyed their greatest popularity during the Victorian period, largely due to Queen Victoria's well-documented love of them. They were associated with classical education, refinement and romantic sentiment, and were frequently given as gifts between lovers, family members and friends. A cameo brooch of this quality would have been a treasured and significant possession.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I wear this today?\u003c\/strong\u003e Absolutely — and it will be extraordinary. Large cameo brooches are having a significant fashion revival, worn on everything from tailored coats to evening gowns. This piece is wearable, secure and utterly show-stopping.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Fogal \u0026 Barnes","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48325955223735,"sku":"Pre-Loved","price":699.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0556\/6513\/1703\/files\/Pre-Loved_Victorian_9ct_Yellow_Gold_Carved_Shell_Cameo_Brooch_Circa_1860_-_Front_View_on_Teal_Silk.jpg?v=1777385064","url":"https:\/\/fogalandbarnes.com\/products\/products-pre-loved-victorian-9ct-yellow-gold-carved-shell-cameo-brooch-circa-1860","provider":"Fogal \u0026 Barnes ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}