Cameo in Modern Times

There has been a resurgence of interest in cameos as people tire of soulless technology-produced items that it seems everyone in their social circle owns.  Especially vibrant is the niche for antique cameo jewelry, make of natural materials and largely hand crafted using minimal machinery. 

Cameo art has emerged on t-shirts and other clothing as well as in the jewelry market.  Of course, the cameo has been modernized in many instances.  The raised relief may not be a portrait of a woman, as were most in the heyday of cameo, but sometimes a garden of palms, the shoreline of a tropical beach or other exotic representation. 

Many modern cameos do use traditional colors, of course, like white on black or grey on blue.  But today’s youth like bright shades and abrupt jolts of color, so how does the demure cameo fit into that culture?  With drama, of course!  Cameos a teenaged girl might buy is nothing like her great-grandmother’s.  Gone is the Victorian-style silhouette, replaced by a Gen-X profile of a young woman-or man-sporting an up to day hair style and sometimes even a piercing or two.  The cameo might depict a beautiful rose or other flower on a two-toned background or a turquoise colored bird in flight against a stark white background.

Cameos today, for the most part, retain the workmanship of the old world cameo but can be exceptionally beautiful in its choice of subject and colors.  One style of lovely cameos depicts the head and shoulders of different modern women, all with an ethereal beauty enhanced by flowing hair and ethnic jewelry.  Another type depicts animals, still another uses angels or unicorns.   

Whatever image a cameo depicts, the style is one of beauty forged by skillful hands.  Though cameos have evolved from staid Victorian depictions of fine ladies to more contemporary tastes, it is still a style that is timeless and beautiful.