Exquisite Cameo Collection in Fine Art & Antiques auction

Lava stone, seashell, agate, bone, emerald, and ebony – cameos can be many things, but foremost precious pieces of versatile beauty. Qualities that become even more apparent when Stockholms Auktionsverk presents a significant collection of 51 objects ranging from Roman antiquity to the mid-20th century. A broad collection within a niche area that has previously been exhibited in its entirety at the Hallwylska Museum and with selected parts at Nationalmuseum and Prins Eugens Waldemarsudde.

“Cameos are a complex art form where shadows and details have been chiseled out of a single piece of material with great care. I really hope that this collection will get the appreciation it deserves. Cameo jewelry is so much more than mass-produced pendants, it is a small work of art that requires an incredible amount of time and skill. Seashells and lava stones are relatively easy to work with, but cameos in precious stone are incredibly time-consuming – those cut in agate have probably taken a year to make,” says jewelry specialist Sandra Johansson.

Cameos and intaglios are miniature sculptural art forms that are not only beautiful to look at but also give the viewer a unique opportunity to look straight into history. They reveal behaviors and customs, historical and social events that have shaped our past. In Greek and Roman antiquity, they were a distinct status object. Intaglios – which involve deep engraving – were used as seals to identify oneself, protect property, and authenticate documents. They were so highly valued that when people died, they left instructions on how to use the seals, often being buried with their seals to be on the safe side. It was a status object that assured others of who you were and your status.

The warlords of the Roman Empire used cameos as decoration on their armor to provide strength in battle, as pins to secure their cloaks, and as objects to collect for pleasure. The gods and goddesses Jupiter, Minerva, Juno, Roma – the Roman version of Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war – and other allegorical figures were popular motifs. The symbolic carvings were very important to the Romans, and symbols of happiness, love, magic, and worship were recurring themes.

During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, motifs revolved around the Christian faith and were a source of strength. They turned completely against the ancient models and redesigned their old cameos into more modern versions. A new context was invented to remove the Roman symbolism and images of gods in favor of more Christian motifs. Meanwhile, the materials had their own meanings, with different gemstones considered to have different properties and was in many cases used as medicine.

Early in the 19th century, the jewelry industry took another turn and began to make new cameos based on the jewelry of antiquity and their aesthetics – since Napoleon had taken over France through the revolution, and all expressions of the old Roman Empire became highly fashionable. During this time, the portraits in the cameos became strict and to the point, without any bows and frills. But when Queen Victoria came to power in England around 1840, depictions became more romantic. They filled up with flowers and sentimental details – her loving marriage to Prince Albert was reflected in most artistic expressions during this time.

“It's so rewarding to explore this collection and cameos as an expression since they make it so easy to follow the historical eras through them. You can see exactly what technology was available and what trends were going on at the time they were made. But regardless of that, it is very moving to look at the jewelry and let your imagination run free. Individually, they are very personal gifts that are meant to bring happiness or express love to their recipients, many designed with a special person in mind. They are little miniature works of art that contain so much more than meets the eye.”

The Cameo Collection will be part of the Fine Art & Antiques auction at Stockholms Auktionsverk on December 5-6th , held at Nybrogatan 32 in Stockholm. The auction is also open for online bidding – view the auction in its entirety here and the jewelry catalogue here.