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Materials used for cameos

The most usual materials used for cameos are: shells (cassis madascariensis, cassis rufa, strombus giga), lava, coral ,  ivory and turquoise.

 SHELLS

Sardonyx shell    (Cassis Madagascarensis)  Cornelian shell (Cypraeacassis Rufa)  Pink Shell (Strombus Giga) Tiger shell (Cyprea tigris)

Cassis Madagascariensis: ca 12 inches. Chestnut brown at bottom, and perfectly white on the surface for engraving.

Cassis Rufa: ca 6 inches. Has an interior reddish layer; the exterior for engraving is pale flesh-colored.

Strombus Gigas: ca 11 inches. Its white and pink layers are not always perfectly distinct from each other; also used for necklaces and buttons, fished in the Bahamas.

Cypraea Tigris: ca 2-4 inches. Has seven different layers of color. In order: tiger brown on the surface. Then white-yellowish, grey-blue, two tones of purple and finally a slightly blueish white. Fished in Indo-Pacific.

Sardonyx Shell Cameos Cornelian Shell Cameos Pink Shell Cameos

Tiger Shell Cameos

Other Materials

Lava

Coral Ivory

Turquoise

guarry
Lava Cameos Coral Cameos Ivory Cameos Turquoise Cameos
       
Amethyst Lapis Malachite Hard stones
Amethyst Cameo Lapis Cameo Malachite Cameo Hard Stone cameos