Rare Galalith Cameo on Glass With 14K Gold Plated Frame

NWS 11-820

~ Cameo collectors will know that this brooch is unusual; most cameos show the profile, but this one shows the full frontal view

~ I believe the cameo itself is made from galalith, an early type of plastic; it is glued to a background of striated glass, with colors of browns, beiges, auburn and black marbleizing  (to the right of her head is one of those marbleized veins)

~ The cameo is prong-set in an ornate, stamped brass setting

~ Outside of the rim of the setting is a strand of rope-twisted wire; the outer most wire is 14K gold plated and bears 6 rings of more rope-twisted wire for added emphasis

~ The color of the cameo and its setting is meant, I believe, to simulate a lava cameo, which were popular in the late 18th century and were VERY fragile (lava crumbles easily, hence very few have survived to the present)

~ The pin stem is an indication of the age; you can see that it extends beyond the edge of the brooch which is correct for a Victorian piece; the swivel-head safety clasp wasn't invented until 1911, so the one on this brooch is a replacement; such replacements were  commonly done by heirs for added safety

c. 1890, in excellent condition; one tiny hairline crack on the back of  the glass base which does not go through to the front, probably occurred during firing

Price = $135.00