Featured Thoughts on Value? Cameo People Needed

I won this at auction. I know it's not actual jewelry. But, I won it for the 9 cameos that are attached to it. I think it's great. When I added in the premium and just a thought on the shipping, my mind started to say "maybe I paid too much." If I walked into an antique store and saw it for a little more than the hammer price, I'd have bought it. It's all the extras that have me wondering.

This is not going to be used as an inkstand. I bought it exclusively for the cameos. This is a late 19th century continental gilt-bronze inkstand with six 1.25" carved cameos. Two 1.75" cameos, and one 2.25" cameo. They're all unusual. Not master carvings. But, above average typical carvings.

If you saw this in an antique store and could buy it at any price, what's the maximum you'd spend? Of course only if you liked it.

THANKS!

 

Snow, you need to figure out what's wrong (file too large?) with some of your pix & repost. Think we could probably use more than 3, but let's see those for starters.

First off, they are shell, so, as you know, not going to be worth as much as if they were hardstone.

 

That was weird. When I first posted it, they were all there. When I went to edit, they were all there. Two just didn't show. So, I deleted and put them back in. I see them. Hopefully you will too.

 

I see them now Snow.

 

It appears that they are all different scenes. Probably they tell a story. I can't see all of them clearly, but some sort of romance, it seems.

 

Me too, but guessing these are auction house pix? There are 5 I can barely make out, if at all. I'm disinclined to think that collectively they tell a single narrative. Perhaps would think different if I could see them all.

 

I think someone set an ornamental inkwell with whatever cameos fit. One is a cavalier (ish) and his lady, and one looks like Romeo and Juliet. The auction house photos leave a lot to be desired.

 

These are the only photos of it. It was nice enough (to me) to buy it. While you can't make out exactly what each is, it's at least obvious they're all different.

Perhaps the company that made the inkstand, which would probably mean this piece was made in Italy. They didn't go very deep into the history.

 

They used Italian cameos, probably whatever fit.

 

I bet you could probably find someone that really loves cameos and wants to find a way to incorporate them into their decor to pay 300-400 for it. If you want to wait for that person to find it, which could take a long time. Brass inkstands without a specific niche theme, made in the 19th century, of average quality (which is usually still pretty nice) are very much not hot sellers. They look great, they are old, ornate, they seem like the kind of thing that people would want, but they don’t. Kind of like travel slope writing desks. Hard to sell. Always outliers of course.Themed examples can be a different story. So you’re in luck there. Are you the end user or is it for sale? It’s not my type of thing so can’t say how much I’d pay. If you love it then what you consider overpaying a bit isn’t the end of the world. You’ll likely never see another so now was the time to buy if you love it. I too am guilty of bidding and not really calculating just how much all those extras are going to add up to. Actually, I do it all the time. Now there’s even a fee for processing the payment though sites like liveauctioneers.

I was curious and did a google. This is the only other example I found. This very much would be my thing…if I found it for like 5-10% of its asking price. https://www.robertschreuder.com/Objets-d-art/Grand-Tour-inkwell-with-lava-stone-cameos

 

That's magnificent. I did not pay anywhere near that. I'm in your version of decor until you add the extras. 29% premium. That's outrageous.

When I looked at it, and saw all the unusual cameos, I thought about how much each of those would run in an antique store. If it was $50 a piece (that's what they ask for faces that are carved horribly) that's $450. In reality, unusual pieces like this would be at least $100, which is $900. Of course it's staying as is, and she'll display it probably with other cameos. She needs a second cabinet.

I looked at prices of ornate inkstands from the later part of the 1800s and I think I got a pretty good deal. Compared to the price of the one you showed, I got a steal. Though that one is beautiful in a different way.

 

I think we need some potties overhere to look at the decoration of the porcelain pots. Maybe German?

Ditto. They could also be by different carvers, but difficult to say from these pics.

 

I think when you get it if you take a photo of each cameo straight on (not angled) it would help. Also photos of the undersides of the porcelain jars and the metal tray plus any marks.

It's a lovely stand!

 

I found your inkstand sale price and, including the extra 29% you mention, I think the price you paid is what I'd expect to see achieved on eBay. Fair, but not the type of price to pay if the purpose is resale. If each of your cameos were set as brooches/wearble, of course the value would be much more.

This one recently sold on liveauctioners for $300 (not including any premiums/fees). I'm not sure where the ink would go but it was listed as an "Italian green marble inkstand". I like yours much better!

 

We seem to be rolling in these inkstands with lava cameos of notable Italians. This one is clearly a souvenir of Naples/Pompeii:

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/216678476

Italian Grand Tour Serpentine Marble Inkstand w/ Lava Intaglio Cameos

It appears the figures were labeled on the underside of the lid, but only 2 of the little tags remain. This batch may have all been writers, appropriate for an inkstand.

 

Under the lid.

 

Thank you. If it's half as nice (it's probably much nicer) as the photos, she's going to love it. Someone on facebook said they have a candlestick holder made by the same company. I'm waiting for her to tell me who it is.

That's something. The one J Dagger listed, which is similar to this one is 3200 euros. I think it's magnificent. But, I wouldn't bid on it. The one I got is special (IMO).

If you find one that looks like mine, let me know. According to grok (we know how reliable AI is), this would have been in a rich person's house. Very hoity toity. In the end, I did buy it from someone who had money. You should have seen the pieces and prices this person's things went for. Old soldier dags and tin types, hundreds of dollars each. 18k pocket watches for thousands. I bought the cheap item.

 

@Snowman Cometh If this is your Facebook group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/912418432888847/posts/2024696068327739/

you can be a hero by telling Jacqueline that she has a stickpin clutch on the pin of her cameo. To pull it off she has to hold on only to the rounded end as she pulls to release the spring. If still stuck, the recommendation to try twisting the whole thing to loosen it is good advice. You can tell Debbie that her cameos are signed by [Francesco] Carnesecchi.

 

I didn't use your name. Because I don't know if you know these people. But, I did say you were an expert. Which you are. So, I'll say THANK YOU for them, and myself. You're always helpful.

 

I sell on ebay. Not alot. This piece is for my wife, it's not for resale.

When I charge for shipping, I usually add fifty cents or a dollar to keep it fair. Since ebay takes roughly 20% of everything, I actually end up paying part of the shipping.

For this one piece which is not huge, the shipping/handling is $106. Since the actual shipping cost will be less than $20, that's some profit. Of course, materials, labor, and overhead have to be included. But, that's still pretty damn expensive.

Also in CA, a single vinyl album was $20. Shipping was $50. It took weeks to arrive.