Eternal beauty

Cameo maker's workbench near Pompeii, Italy. Raised images carved in shells because popular during the Renaissance (15th and 16th Centuries). Helmut shells and conch shells are very popular sources for carvers. Italian carvers often use flame or bullmouth helmet cassis rufa (carnelian shell). A center for shell cameo carving is Torre del Greco, Italy, near Mt. Vesuveus. A master carver can take a week or more to carve a good quality shell cameo.

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