Grand Tour Naples Cameo Bracelet
A remarkable Grand Tour period cameo bracelet dating from the late 19th century, circa 1870. It was made in Naples as a souvenir for the Grand Tourists, the region being known for its long lineage of gemstone carvers. The seven panels are each carved from a cowrie shell, making excellent use of the colour banding, and are mounted in silver with a gold ropework border. They each depict a scene of Naples and the surrounding areas which we have (attempted to) identify as:
- Castel dell'Ovo (Egg Castle), a
- Peaks of the Faraglioni, the iconic sea stacks located off the coast of the island of Capri.
- Aragonese castle, built on a small tidal island east of Ischia in 474 BC.
- The Gulf of Naples with Vesuvius smouldering away in the background.
- Certosa di San Martino, former Carthusian monastery (now a museum) which sits on the Vomero mountain of Naples.
- The archaeological site of Pompeii, once a thriving Roman city devastated after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius (which we see looming in the background) in 79 AD.
- Unknown.
Naples would have been one of the most exciting stops on the Grand Tour. The spot where classical Greece arrived in Italy from the distant shores of the Aegean. The city where Brutus planned the assassination of Julius Caesar. It was besieged by Hannibal, close to the slopes on which Spartacus staged his infamous slave revolt, and overlooked by Vesuvius, the volcano that killed Pliny the Elder and destroyed Pompeii. Shelly was so taken with the place that he penned an Ode to Naples:
"I stood within the city disinterred;
And heard the autumn leaves like light footfalls
Of spirits passing through the streets;
and heard The mountain's slumberous voice at intervals
Thrill through those roofless halls.
The oracular thunder penetrating shook
The listening soul in my suspended blood.
I felt that Earth out of her deep heart spoke…"
Era: Victorian, circa 1870
Length: 7.5 inches
Panel size: 1.9cm by 2.4cm
Stones: Cowrie shell cameos
Marks: None, tested as silver and 9ct gold
Condition: Great antique condition
Full appraisal document provided with each item.
This includes a valuation for insurance purposes, item specifics, date, and origins (where applicable).
Gemstones are tested by an accredited gemmologist (Cert GA, Gemmological Association of Great Britain).
Shipping
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Tracked and insured with signature on delivery
RM Special Delivery (UK domestic)
US Shipments
Parcels going to the United States are currently subject to the Trump administration's 10% "reciprocal tariff". Until August 29th (2025), parcels under $800 remain tariff-free under the de minimis exemption.
We declare our parcels under HTS code 9706 (antique over 100 years old) which reduces import duties to zero. This means the 10% "reciprocal tariff" is all you should be charged by customs*. At this time, you are responsible for any taxes levied at the border.
US customs will require a SS# or business tax ID to clear parcels valued over $2500. UPS will request this information from you directly. More information about this can be found on the US Customs and Border Protection website.
* The tariff situation is being handled extremely erratically by the Trump administration, as such it's susceptible to change as short notice. We will keep the information on this page updated as best we can.
[last updated: August 23rd, 2025]
Resizing
Ring sizing is available on most rings
£55 flat fee
Resizing takes 7-14 days
Leave a note at checkout with your desired size
Note: sizing may remove some of the patina (although we take every care to reduce this where possible)
Layaway
25% deposit taken to secure the item. The remaining balance will be settled in 90 days. You can pay installments weekly, monthly, or the full balance at the end - whatever works.
Condition
We offer detailed and accurate condition reports on each listing. These pieces are antique, vintage, or pre-loved and often over 100 years old so they're going to have lived a life. A healthy patina and the odd scuff or scrape is quite normal... it's part of their charm! Everything we present has been checked over by our jeweller and should be good for wear for many years to come (unless otherwise stated) but please remember to treat them with appropriate care and consideration for their age.
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