The originate of cameos is going back to the time of Roman Empire. The purpose was to memorize the image of the loved one, honor the worrier's hero, the emperors. The first cameo known was actually a profile of a two man/emperor, not a profile of women face, like it is so popular today. That image become very fashionably by 19 centuries. There is special shell (cassis mollusks) in Italy in Torre Del Greco where it become like a engrave the shell center, manufactured for the traditional profile of lady face cameo. Unfortunately, most cameos today are made from plastic mold, manufactured and multiply by millions. The more expensive one are computer design and laser cut in stones (agate, amber) set in gold or silver frames.
My cameo faces are hand sculpture/curved with Polymer Clay I use dentist tools to make the engravings in miniature details, there is no mold, there is no two the same, there are One of a Kind unique pieces. I can also recreate for custom order similar cameo face of your loved one from your photo.
Please contact me before your order and please consider that is all really handmade process so it never will be exactly the same as on the picture
annaliss@comcast.net