The Enchantment Of Cameo

The Cameo technique was first developed by ancient Roman glassmakers, becoming very popular after the discovery of glassblowing. Glass objects of one colour were overlaid with one or more layers of contrasting hues; the outer layer (or layers) was then carved into to create relief decorations which usually depicted epic scenes and myths from the Greek world. Through the centuries, artists from different areas used this technique, but it was in England, during the 19th century, that there was a great revival of interest in cameo glass. This article looks into the main stages of development of the technique, with a special focus on English masters of the art, as well as an outlook on other areas of Europe, mainly France.