Don’t you love Victorian jewelry? Those 19th century ladies seem to have had the perfect jewel for every occasion and for every need, from hat pins to jet black mourning jewelry, to extravagant sets of matching jewels they called “suites”. Because I’ve always loved cameos, I’m giving away a Wedgwood blue cameo necklace similar to the one shown here as today’s prize in my 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway, celebrating the release of my new Victorian-era novel, EVERY PERFECT GIFT.
The word “cameo” meaning a carved precious stone with two layers of color, originated in the 16th century from an earlier 13th century word that may have meant ‘bud” or “flower.” The use of “cameo” to denote a small part in a play is from 1928, borrowed from an 1851 definition meaning a short literary sketch or portrait. Though the most familiar cameo jewelry is the female profile we see today, when cameos first came into fashion, the most popular one depicted the scene from the Bible of Rebecca at the Well. If you’d like to win the cameo necklace in my giveaway, enter here: http://on.fb.me/Wzhv5H
Dorothy, I think this is beautiful…I love Victorian things and the ritual of a Victorian afternoon tea as well. My mother made me a long pink skirt to wear to a Christmas party when I worked at MSU one year. She saved some of the deep pink color and made a band and inserted her older cameo so I could wear that around my neck. I still have a photo of that today…it was a very special time. Thanks so much for sharing. 🙂
Paula and Diane, thank YOU for sharing here. I love hearing about others’ traditions. wishing you a wonderful Christmas!
This is so pretty Dorothy, I remember the cameo’s from the past _I think Mom had some jewelry with this. I didnt know they had one of Rebecca at the well, bet that would be something to see, thanks for sharing
Paula O