Is this beyond hope?

Please help me make an informed decision. I really love this, but it's not cheap. Apart from a chipped corner on the front, the MOP, silver frame around the cameo, & lining are all in good condition. Even comes with some provenance that dates it to no later than mid-19th century. But. The condition of the base metal frame concerns me. Can this be cleaned up, at least enough to get rid of what looks like iron rust, without jeopardizing other parts? If so, how?





All input appreciated.

 

Did you try a magnet ,it looks like plated steel and probably can't be restored without a lot of work and luck.

 

It's something I'm considering buying on line. I have only pix to go by, but sure looks ferrous, doesn't it? The ornamentation around the cameo is marked as silver. The hinge side is in worse condition than the side that opens. I would want it for actual, mild, use, it would be the perfect card case for me - if it were presentable. It wouldn't need to be restored to like-new condition, just not looking like it's ready for the scrap yard. The MOP cameo is one of the best I have ever seen.

 

The cameo is gorgeous, but if it were set as jewellery instead of like this, still not sure I'd part with the almost $300 seller is asking. (No best offer option.) If the case is not usable, any price is too high. They have other, all silver cases that seem reasonably priced to me, so suspect they have a feel for the market.

It may be French; there is still a little appointment calendar under the flap on the side with the pencil loops that has the names of the days in French. Everything else about it is such high quality, surprised the frame is not silver.

 

Agree the cameo is a beauty!
For the rust on the polished steel frame, I’d use WD40 on a q-tip and scrap with a fiberglass brush pen or finest steel wool. What seems awful is only some fresh rust, shouldn’t be difficult to get rid of it

 

Thanks for the encouragement - you can tell I'm looking for an excuse to buy it. I happen to have some fine steel wool on hand but no WD40. Doing some quick research, sounds like a good thing to have on hand for many uses. Still not ready to take the plunge just yet. Anyone else have some tips & tricks? Probably hard to outdo kyratango when it comes to restoring little treasures.

 

@kyratango is a terrible enabler for the jewellery addicted, & this card case is the next thing to it. Even comes with a card saying who it was being given to & whose it was originally (great grandmother).

 

Do they still have the contact seller option? You can make an offer that way.

Do they say the case is sterling? Looks like the mount around the cameo is.
If the case is sterling, what is rusting is the pin that makes up the hinge. Maybe a jeweler could replace it, if you can't yourself.

 

Another enabler. Seller says only '[cameo] surrounded with a delicate detail in silver (maybe sterling)' but makes no representation at all concerning other metal parts. Your suggestion reconciles the rust with my feeling that all visible metal parts would be silver. If I could set it up so just the 'spine' could soak in wd40, would that remove a lot of the crud from that area? And then swab it on where rust has seeped onto other surfaces?

You can still contact sellers & I have occasionally written to ask if a seller who did not invite offers would consider taking a lower amount. My offers are often accepted because the amount of discount I ask for is modest. If I go for it, will probably try to plead it down a bit.

 

if you get 300 burning a hole in yer purse....get it..
otherwise pass it by.....too many unknowns..

 

Yeah, it's the doubts that hold me back, along with some considerations concerning just how much use I would get out of it, even if it were perfect. If I had more opportunities to flash it around, I could look at it as a kind of investment. Maybe someone else will buy it while I dither. Maybe another will come along that I like nearly as well at a more affordable price. Maybe...

 

I don't know what's usual, I've never seen another one quite like this. I see what you mean though. What I think is happening is that the silver piece was made to have an oval opening large enough to accommodate the widest part of the cameo, the shoulders, and also make a pleasing arc above the head. It would not have been as symmetrical if the lower part had been shaped to follow the line of the truncation, it would have been more egg shaped. Does that make any sense?

 

What you sometimes see in cameos when you can compare them to the original art behind them, is that the composition has been altered somewhat to make it all fit in an oval. This is particularly the case with raised or outstretched arms: they get pulled closer to the body in the cameo version.

 

Could put this with the laughable listings, but a case for comparison:

Victorian Mother Of Pear [sic] And Abalone Cameo Lady Sewing Case Or Dance Card Holder



I should add, it's $325.

 

The OP's cameo looks like sea hag

There is no reasonable expectation of saving the rusted steel