Cameo
Relief image of a profile on stone or in an artifact
A cameo portrait is a special form of portrait image made by carving on precious or semi-precious stones. Unlike ordinary painted portraits, a cameo is a relief miniature — the profile of a person is carved in layers on a multicolored mineral. Works from antiquity were especially valued, where cameos became not only decorations but also a kind of signature of the owner: often imperial and royal families ordered rare masters to create collections.
In the 19th century, cameos came back into fashion; women wore them as brooches at aristocratic balls.
Interestingly, the best workshops forged ancient cameos, and today many "ancient" specimens most likely came from the hands of 19th-century virtuosos. The cameo is also a hallmark of the era in porcelain, where fine work required incredible precision.