Lava Cameo necklace (Grand Tour Souvenir)

Rare Georgian period Pinchback Cameo necklace. Circa 1820 with fourteen carved high relief Lava Cameos of different natural untreated colours.
Necklace length 14" (41 cm)
Cameos in size ranging from 9/16 x1/2-13/16x43/64”
Total weight 196,5 grams

At the start of the 19th century, as part of their education  the European elite made a journey through Europe called the Grand Tour. One of the popular destinations was the newly excavated ruins of Pompeii. Souvenirs of this place were made from the locally found lava rock. Wearing a lava cameo proved that the wearer was a well-traveled person of culture and good taste. The local industry created many cameos and intaglios from this unique material. One Cameo in a gold mounting.