Recently Sold (VICBR016)

Rebecca At The well - Victorian Gold Filled Carved Conch Shell Scenic Cameo Brooch. This gorgeous brooch is crafted from gold fill. Featuring a hand carved conch shell cameo, victorian era styling, and quality craftsmanship. The exquisitely carved cameo is based on a biblical story of Rebecca. This particular example is carved from a genuine conch shell, and depicts a charming country scene, and a maiden dressed in period clothing. Rebecca and the well cameos, as they were known, were popular among the Victorians from around the 1800s. The carving is crisp and the color of the cameo is ivory white, and peach. The gallery frames the cameo beautifully, and displays a polished finish with a dainty twisted rope design. The pin on the back of the brooch locks inside the original 'c' clasp. This Victorian era piece would make a wonderful gift for that special someone, or addition to any fine jewelry collection. So charming! 

History: These cameos were carved around the Biblical story of Rebekah, who stood at a well and drew water for Abraham’s servant. Abraham had wanted to find a suitable bride for his son Isaac, and so sent off his trusted servant Eliezer of Damascus to find a kind hearted girl for Isaac. Rebekah was chosen when she proved her kindness by offering to draw water from a well to quench the thirst not only of the servant Eliezer but also that of his camels.

The most basic of these cameos started off by portraying a simple scene with a village girl in Victorian clothing, standing by a well with a house or castle in the background. Gradually other elements were introduced, such a single tree in the foregorund by the house or castle, more trees and houses in the background, shrubs or bushes, a bridge with flowing stream underneath and at times more than one person, but always set in a country scene. All of the faces in this type of cameo are carved in a stylistic manner with no visible features, even though the carving may be quite crisp and well detailed, as in this particular cameo. It seems to have been one of the characteristics of Rebecca-type cameos.

Rebecca went to the well outside her city and encountered a stranger who identified her as the answer to his prayers. The backstory, according to Genesis 24:11–22, is that the aged Abraham wanted a wife for his son Isaac and sent his senior steward to his homeland of Mesopotamia to find a suitable woman.

Around 1500 artisans in Italy and France began to carve these shells into cameos depicting portrait profiles, groups, historical scenes, mythological motifs, architectural motifs, a wide variety of subjects. Victorian England popularized the shell cameo's use as a jewelry necessity.

Measurements: Brooch 45.00 mm x 35.00 mm 

Stone Size: Cameo 40.00 mm x 30.00 mm 

Weight: 12.40 grams 

Condition: Very good. Note: Slight age related wear to the gold Fill. To be expected considering the age. Not very noticeable , and does not take away from the beauty of the piece. 

Origin: Italy 

Date: Circa 1890