French Country · Encyclopedia · Jewelry and Accessories
Cameo
Carved shell or stone portraits, set in brooches and pendants.
Jewelry · Indicative US retail $50–$3,000
At a glance
- Family: Jewelry
- Periods most often found: Most date from 1840 to 1930.
- Typical price: about $300; range $50 to $3,000 and more for exceptional pieces
- What drives value: Material, carving
What it is
Cameos are portraits or scenes carved in relief in shell, coral, lava, agate, onyx or other hardstone. Italian shell cameos carved at Torre del Greco near Naples were bought by Grand Tour travelers from the 18th century; Victorian England and France set them in gold brooches, pendants and rings.
How to identify and date it
Hold a cameo to light: shell is curved and translucent, showing the layers; hardstone is opaque, flat and colder. Molded glass or plastic cameos show no tool marks. Carving quality (faces, hair, drapery) and gold mounts drive value; check for cracks and repairs.
Periods and styles
Most date from 1840 to 1930.
How much is it worth?
On the US retail market, most cameo examples ask around $300. Simple or worn pieces start near $50, while documented, signed or exceptional examples can pass $3,000. The main value drivers are: material, carving. These are indicative ranges, not an appraisal; see our price guide for French antiques for the method.
Questions buyers ask: rare most valuable cameos; are cameos worth anything; left facing cameo rare most valuable cameos; how much are cameos worth. The answer depends on the points below, which are worth checking before you compare prices.
Before you buy
- Check material against light
- Inspect carving
- Read gold marks
Living with it
A cameo brooch on a coat or a pendant on a chain is timeless.
How we write these guides: identification notes are general guidance written by French Country; a style name, a region or a resemblance does not by itself date or attribute a piece. Price ranges are indicative US retail asking prices for antique and vintage examples in sound condition (dealers, specialist marketplaces and auctions), estimated and rounded as of November 2026; check recent sold results before relying on a figure. They are not appraisals or offers to buy or sell: condition, provenance and documentation can move a value far outside the range. For insurance, estates or sales, ask an independent, qualified appraiser for a written valuation.