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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. |
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SHELLS |
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| Sardonyx shell (Cassis Madagascarensis) | Cornelian shell (Cypraeacassis Rufa) | Pink Shell (Strombus Giga) | Tiger shell (Cyprea tigris) |
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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-coloured. |
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 colour. In order: tiger brown on the surface. Then white-yellonwish, grey-blue, two tones of purple and finally a slightly blueish white. Fished in Indo-Pacific. |
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Other Materials |
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| Lava | Coral | Ivory | Turquoise |
