We are well known for our intaglio jewelry here at Bauble Magpie, as it is our niche specialty. We get asked loads of questions about it, and have answered some of the most commonly asked questions for you here.
Intaglio vs cameo jewelry what is the difference?
Many wonder in the intaglio vs cameo jewelry debate, what is the difference? Both are jewellery featuring a stone, semi-precious stone, or precious gemstone that has been carved with a design. However, the main difference between an intaglio and a cameo is that a cameo is carved in relief. This means that the image or motif sticks out, standing proud from the stone. On the other hand, an intaglio is the exact opposite. Rather than standing out from the stone, it’s carved into the stone.
Other than the way the stone is carved, another difference in intaglio vs cameo jewellery is the type of designs you’ll see. Intaglios were originally made for a specific purpose, which was to be used in a wax seal stamp to add privacy and authenticity to mail being sent in the Victorian and Georgian eras. Cameos cannot be used for this purpose, and are more likely purely decorative. Many cameos feature simple designs like a woman in profile, or a classical scene, while intaglios can run the gamut from heraldics and mythological creatures to names and quotes.
Cameo jewellery is currently much more well known than intaglio jewellery, though this is changing as more and more people come to understand the beauty and meaning of intaglios. We’re much more interested in intaglios, though both are intricate to carve. In a cameo, perhaps it’s a little easier for the carver to see the details and adjust or fix mistakes, while with an intaglio it’s a lot harder to see.
Which is more valuable intaglio or cameo carved jewelry?
There’s no one answer to which is more valuable between intaglio jewelry or cameo carved jewelry as every piece can vary wildly, either due to the design being particularly popular or relevant in a modern day, or due to the rarity of the piece. Cameo jewelry and intaglio jewelry can both command a high price, though at the moment some cameo jewelry is more expensive due to the popularity and fame of the style.
The value of a cameo can also be whether it is a true cameo, which is one shell that is carved, or a duplex, which is a cameo carved in a shell then stuck onto another flat piece.
What is intaglio jewelry and why is it considered so special?
Intaglio jewelry is any jewelry that contains an intaglio – which can also be known as a wax seal. An intaglio is a piece of semi-precious or precious stone that has been carved to contain an image, word, or motif, which could then be pressed into wax to leave a distinctive mark. The imagery would be carved in reverse, so that it would come out the right way when pressed into wax. Once only used in wax seal stamps, many intaglios find new life as a piece of intaglio jewelry, where the original intaglio has been mounted into an intaglio pendant or formed into a wax seal signet ring. They are special because they combine history together with modern meaning, often to be worn as a piece of talisman jewelry.
How do I know if my intaglio piece is a genuine antique?
For the average person, there is no surefire, guaranteed or simple way to know if an intaglio piece is a genuine antique. There isn’t a system like Hallmarking in place for intaglios, so being able to tell if a piece is the genuine article comes down to experience. Emma, the owner, founder and designer at Bauble Magpie, has years of experience in handling intaglios, and has come to develop a sixth sense about the authenticity of intaglios.
Some things she looks for include the material, motif, and source of an intaglio. Different materials and motifs were common and popular during the Victorian and Georgian era, while some more modern sayings or imagery was either never made or incredibly uncommon – for example, a dragonfly is an incredibly unlikely motif for an antique intaglio, so if you’re seeing one, it may not be real.
The source of the the intaglio can also be an indication of its authenticity – if it has been removed from a setting in an antique wax seal stamp, then it is likely an antique! Or, if it comes from a reputable supplier who can trace its history.
Buying intaglios from trusted sources is always recommended. There are brands out there who are deliberately trying to take advantage of the difficulty in identifying authentic antique intaglios, either selling modern replicas as antiques, or obfuscating information in an attempt to be misleading. Shopping from established, specialty brands like Bauble Magpie is the best way to certify that your intaglio is an antique.
