{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O199192"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O199192/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AF2885/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AF2885/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AF2885","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O199192/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O199192","accessionNumber":"4890-1858","objectType":"Cameo","titles":[{"title":"Three Portrait Heads","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This cameo depicting three overlapping heads of women facing to the left is made by an unknown artist in Germany in the 18th century.\r\n\r\nThe art of engraving gemstones has been admired since the early days of the Roman empire. It was revived in Europe during the Renaissance, and again in the 18th and 19th centuries. Cameos and intaglios were prized and collected, sometimes as symbols of power and mounted in jewelled settings, sometimes as small objects for private devotion or enjoyment.\r\n\r\nAn intaglio carving is cut into the surface of the material and a cameo is in relief. The art of gemstone carving was known in ancient Greece and Rome and revived in Renaissance Italy, when connoisseurs began to form rich collections of engraved stones. \r\n\r\nShell cameos are much easier to cut than those made from gemstones. Also, the raw material is cheaper and easier to acquire. They were popular in the 16th century and then again in the 18th and 19th centuries, when the passion for carved gemstones led to a parallel explosion in the market for cheaper shell cameos. They are still popular today.","physicalDescription":"The cameo shows three overlapping heads of women in profile facing to the left.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"},{"text":"shell","id":"AAT11829"}],"techniques":[{"text":"gilding","id":"AAT53789"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Shell, in silver gilt setting","categories":[{"text":"Amulets","id":"THES48995"},{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Jewellery","id":"THES48930"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2006AF2885"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"034","id":"THES395779"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Cameo three portrait heads","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Germany","id":"x28873"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"18th century","earliest":"1700-01-01","latest":"1800-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Width","value":"26","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"approximate","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"24","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"approximate","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions uneven and obscured by setting","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Bought, 18s","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Cameo, depicting three heads, by an unknown artist, Germany, 18th century","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1858. <u>In</u>: <u>Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, Arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol I</u>. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 3"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"heads","id":"x37855"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["4890-1858"],"accessionNumberNum":"4890","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1858,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-11","recordCreationDate":"2009-03-12","availableToBook":true}}