NAVIGATION

Late 18th century classicism affected architecture, furniture, ceramics and costume and cameos were thus the most appropriate fashion accessory. The Grand Tour created a lucrative market for the shell cameo carvers of Rome and Naples in making classical souvenirs that were proudly taken home to England or France by the aristocratic owners. After Napoleon’s Italian campaign in 1796 many fine cameos from Rome found their way to France and captivated artists, craftsmen and collectors, including Napoleon himself. In England cameos were often mounted with diamonds, pearls and precious stones and it became fashionable in the early 19th century to wear cameos with Grecian style high-waist dresses on a belt, on a necklace, bracelets, diadem and a band worn around the forehead.