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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Bronwen, post: 13109174, member: 5833&quot;]Size &amp; weight do not, of course, equate with quality, but I&#039;d be pretty chuffed if this one came into my hands, for the quality of the carving and the desirable subject matter.</p><p><br /></p><p>One thing that is unusual about this piece is that the bezel has to rise &amp; fall with the contours of the section of shell.&nbsp; We see this all the time with helmet shell cameos, but the bezels of most conch pieces can stay level, just as with hardstone, due to the thickness. To my mind the weight is a bit of a negative, making it not so suited to be worn as jewellery.&nbsp; It would do well on a wall in a shadowbox.&nbsp; You would need quite a stately bosom to carry this one off.</p><p><br /></p><p>This scene of The Dipping of Achilles is a similar size to your piece.&nbsp; You can tell by how much of my hand it covers:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]558916[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>I have wondered whether some 19th century engravers of hardstone discovered conch shell as a medium in which to exercise their skill &amp; perhaps execute a preliminary version of a subject intended for stone.</p><p><br /></p><p>What sort of reaction have you received from museums/auction houses you have contacted?[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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