Show I 1 CAMEOS RESTORED TO FAVOR ancient art has resumed popularity onyx and shell berit befit liked in present day tho the earliest safety pin came from mycenae and so BO did what Is probably the earliest existing cameo lit it Is a little recumbent llon lion carved in amethyst and he be reposes today in the british museum this cameo Is to sculpture what the miniature la Is to the easel picture it Is a small sized low relief carved upon a hard bard stone or gem the onyx or which Is to be found in various shaded layers was the fa favorite material for a cameo of old tho the roman ladles ladies of romes imperial days wore cameo ornaments in their hair the nobles wore them on their armor and as shoulder brooches or fastenings to their cloaks cameo cutting became then a great art show ing the rarest delicacy and cunning of hand portrait alt cameos were first favorites in the days of ancient rome as ateo after the renaissance were portraits and classic heads medusa was very often chosen as subject because of her tra tragic etc face and her winged head where serpents writhed among her tangled locks when glands En warriors returned from the wars of the crusades they brought with them among hosts hoists of other treasures from the east the first cameos ever seen been there good queen bess who loved to have her portrait taken sent for a cameo cutter from france and she was duly duir sculptured in turquoise tur anid and cut numberless times in onyx but it is the old fashioned shell cameo which has become so 60 dear to women collectors when delicately dell catelY cut it should have bavo a delicious creamy softness a precious pre cloua richness of effect an onyx cameo on tho other hand la Is bright glistening brilliant and it Is far more durable london mail |