In one of the most lavish weddings since Prince Charles and Princess Diana, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden wed her personal trainer, Daniel Westling, on June 19th, 2010. Per Bernadotte Dynasty tradition, the Swedish princess accessorized her all-white ensemble with a show-stopping pearl and cameo diadem, which has been wore by every Swedish royal bride since Napoleon´s first wife Empress Josephine gifted it to her granddaughter on the day of her wedding to the King of Sweden in 1823.
As one of the oldest keepsakes in Sweden’s collection of royal jewels, the gold heirloom features seed-shaped pearls and seven (yes, that’s right, seven) cameo portraits. A playful depiction of Venus and Cupid from Greek Mythology sits in the central cameo, flanked on either side by six individual portraits. Two of these exterior cameos show a profile image of a man and a woman who share a loving gaze across Venus and Cupid. It took the Parisian crown jeweler Marie-Etienne Nitot commissioned by Napoleon two years to complete the entire headpiece.
Cameos originated in ancient Greece and Rome, but the designs were made fashionable during the Italian Renaissance. Artisans crafted the works of art from a single piece of stone or shell, using a reductive process to reveal a portrait or mythological motif. In comparison to engravings, cameos feature raised designs, while engravings recede inwards. When made by hand, the natural banding and color variations of certain semi-previous stones like agate create depth and contrast.
With the advancement of modern technology, few artisans continue to create one-of-a-kind cameo pieces. Therefore, vintage pieces are highly sought after and often passed down as heirlooms. Cameos are favorites of royal icons such as Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria.
Don’t belong to a royal family with a ready supply of cameos? Not to worry. In addition to some great vintage finds and costume pieces, today designers use both traditional and modern techniques to create cameos at a variety of price points.
SPLURGE
Roman Carved Agate Cameo, 19th Century, $2,500
SAVE
Amedeo Hand Carved Shell Cameo Pendant, Starting at $350
STEAL
Topshop Cameo Locket Stud Earrings, $18
(Photography courtesy of Wikimedia).
Published on August 5, 2010
While there are many sites today dedicated to the pursuit of fashion and style, here at MRK Style we approach these subjects through a collector’s lens. Through exploring how people relate to Art, Family, Fashion, Food, Film and Travel—essentially life’s various, everyday obsessions—we reflect on how we all live with the things we love. 
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