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Gorgeous oval-shaped pink shell cameo brooch with a white female silhouette. The carved shell is set in a solid 14 karat yellow gold frame with gold floral adornment and encircled by six very clear cultured pearls.
 
The technique of the cut out was that the background was sharpened to bring out the representation in relief. Another name for this is "embossed multicolored stone.
 
In the mid 18th century, explorations revealed new shell varieties. Helmet shells and queen conch shells from the Bahamas and West Indies, arrived in Europe. This encouraged a huge increase in the number of cameos that were carved from shells. Conch shells carve very well, but their color fades over time. After 1850 demand for cameos grew, as they became popular souvenirs of the Grand Tour, 17th- and 18th century, among the bourgeoisie.