Shell Cameos

European carved shell cameo set in 14k yellow gold. Love the flower in her hair and at her shoulder! So beautiful when held to the light!

Cameos tend to be one of the most collected categories of jewelry - and in my opnion, one of the most confusing categories of jewelry collecting! I will be the first to admit I know very little about cameos. I think they are beautiful, and I can admire the workmanship that went into them. I am able to tell the difference between a costume cameo and a real cameo. But beyond that? Well, it gets a little hairy. There are so many things to consider when evaluating a cameo; not the least of which: what is it made from? Cameos were made from a wide variety of materials: abalone, wood, coral, agate, bone, glass, shell, hardstone, plastic and resin to name a few. This post will focus on carved shell cameos.

The earliest known use of shell for carving cameos was during the Renaissance in the 15th and 16th Centuries. These cameos were typically white on gray and were carved from the shell of a mussel. In the mid-18th Century, explorations revealed new shell varieties which led to an increase in shell cameos. Conch shells tend to be soft and carve very well. Shell cameos are carved from a single piece of shell.

The Virgin Mary. Carved Shell set in 800 Silver with marcasites. Pin or pendant. Note the halo detail around her head - just lovely!

Shell cameos are usually 2 colors and have a thin, concave back with the exception of abalone and mother of pearl as they tend to be thicker. (information in this paragraph taken from ezine article "All About Cameos" and from Wikipedia). I have been trolling around on Ruby Lane and eBay recently for unusual cameos and have found several I really like. I sense a new collection. SOMEBODY STOP ME. SERIOUSLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Same cameo from above shown without back-lighting.

Both of these cameos are available on Ruby Lane!

Chrysalis

Along a dusty road in India there sat a beggar who sold cocoons. A young boy watched him, day after day, and the beggar finally beckoned to him. "Do you know what beauty lies within this chrysalis? I will give you one so you might see for yourself. But you must be careful not to handle the cocoon until the butterfly comes out."

The boy was enchanted with the gift and hurried home to await the butterfly. He laid the cocoon on the floor and became aware of a curious thing. The butterfly was beating its fragile wings against the hard walls of the chrysalis until it appeared it would surely perish, before it could break the unyielding prison. Wanting only to help, the boy swiftly pried the cocoon open.


Out flopped a wet, brown ugly thing which quickly died. When the beggar discovered what had happened he explained to the boy "In order for the butterfly wings to grow strong enough to support him, it is necessary that he beat them against the walls of his cocoon. Only by this struggle can his wings become beautiful and durable. When you denied him that struggle, you took away from him his only chance of survival."


May the walls of your cocoon be just thick enough to allow you to struggle just long enough to emerge the beautiful person I already know you to be.

Ever Had One of Those Days? I Mean Weeks? I Mean Years?

The title, the picture and this sentence and that last word are my entire post.

ROAR!

Rare Roaring Lion Pin by Erwin Pearl. Available at Ruby Lane.

Waiting for Spring!

I always used to think of myself as a cold weather kind of girl. I didn't mind the cold, preferred my winter wardrobe to my summer wardrobe and looked forward to snow. Of course, I was about 15 years younger. These days? Eh....not so much. I am cold all the time...I have the worst time keeping my feet warm and have taken to actually wearing bedroom shoes. My winter wardrobe makes me feel frumpy. And snow? Forget it. I live in a city that literally grinds to a halt (ok..."grinds" is putting it nicely....its more like "comes to a screeching halt") at the mere mention of snow. If it actually DOES snow....man oh man. Utter meltdown. A few weeks ago the forecast was calling for 3-6 inches and there were over 100 wrecks BEFORE IT EVEN BEGAN SNOWING. Like, 6 hours before it began snowing. Its like people around here hear the word "snow" and decide to rush out (gotta get that bread and milk), get behind the wheel of a car and tear around town at 100 miles an hour. "OMG - its gonna snow!" *Crash* "Dude - it's gonna snow!" *Crash, crash* *Sigh*. But I digress. While I am not a fan of 100 degree weather and the heaviest humidity known to man (this IS the South, after all...), it is better than walking around like a frumpy snowman itching to get into my car, in the snow and ice, and see how well my Honda can tear it up ;)

As you may be able to tell, I LOVE SPRING. Renewal! Hope! Baby birds and bunnies! Jonquils and tulips! Sunshine and moderate temperatures! That first time of the year rolling down the sunroof and feeling the sun pour into the car and a light breeze as you drive. Ahhhh! The whole point of my rambling today is actually to share with you all some photos I took of my kitchen windowsill. My plants are in bloom!

Bunny hiding in my Christmas Cactus!

And I think there may be a bunny or two as well!

Christmas Cactus Bloom

My "Christmas Cactus" has been blooming for almost a month and my clover for almost 3 weeks!

Clover blooms....I love how the clover opens during the day and closes up at night....

The weeping pussy-willow is a new addition to my windowsill family.

The Weeping Pussy-Willow Blooms....

I have always love weeping willows, but found it a tad impractical to put one in the kitchen window - darn it all anyway. So when I ran across these weeping pussy-willows at Trader Joes I was SOOOO excited! They also call this little tree the "Tree of Enchantment" and an insert instructs the new owner to tie a loose knot on one of the more flexible limbs and make a wish. When your wish comes true, untie the knot and thank your tree!

Up-Close Shot of the Weeping Pussy-Willow Bloom. Amazing, huh?

As another sign of impending Spring, we have 2 birds that appear to have taken a keen interest in my dining room window. (or maybe they are interested in the hustle and bustle of my household? They are probably laughing at me as I scurry around picking up and cleaning up...they probably think I need to sit down and put my feet up. Smart birds...) They come to "visit" quite a bit and tap at the window pane with their beaks.

Our New Addition to the Family....

HAPPY FORTHCOMING SPRING!

Eisenberg Original & Vintage Costume Jewelry

New photos for you to drool over...at least I hope you drool!

The Lady and the Librarian are on Facebook...find us by clicking on the link above and become a fan for updates on new finds and advance notice of special events and sales! Enjoy the photos!

Circa 1950's multi-colored rhinestone pendant necklace signed "Art" on the reverse. The "Art" company is AKA "Mode Art" and was in business from 1950 - 1980 and owned by Arthur Pepper. Best known for their whimsical designs, they also produced beautiful pieces of rhinestone jewels as well.

Though unsigned, this pendant necklace is very much in the style of jewelry from Czechoslovakia. Note the large central glass stone with small rhinestone accents. The soft pewter-tone surrounding metal is not only detailed on the front but has a hammered appearance on the reverse - a clue to it being well-made.

This bling-bling rhinestone leaf is also unsigned but truly, no signature is needed. The huge central rhinestone and tons of surrounding rhinestones make enough of a statement! This is a gorgeous piece!

Ahhh...the creme de la creme. An Eisenberg Original fur clip. It doesn't get any better, any more collectible, more sought after or more RARE than this. Every serious collection should have one. Eisenberg began production in 1935 and is still in business today. Like many jewelry companies, Eisenberg has used several signatures or marks on the back of their jewelry. The "Eisenberg Original" mark is the earliest mark found on jewelry items; other marks were found on paper tags or on clothing. This mark dates this piece to being made between 1935 and 1945. A true testament to quality and an icon in the jewelry business, Eisenberg is well known amongst collectors for their use of top of the line materials and that has rendered their vintage items extremely sought after today because their jewelry retains its beauty. Their designs are timeless - as easily worn today as when they were manufactured. Pure graace and beauty. *Sigh*.

All of the preceding items are available for purchase via Ruby Lane.

They are also viewable on Facebook under The Lady and the Librarian's photos!