New-York tribune., 1884-01-26
CANEO-CUTTING.
WHERE CAMEOs ARE FOUND AND now THEY ARE
CUT.

WHERE CAMEOS ARE FOUND AND now THEY ARE
CUT.
Said n Broadway dealer in canoes recently:
"CancO-cutteTs of two knds-the artistic ana the
commercial The first make canoes frOm lie ana from
photographs and do other original work the second
simply copy and again the work or the 1rst
The commercial men number about three hundred IN
France Italy and Germany while there are hut dozen
artistic workers in France where the best canoes are cut
There four five artistic cutters in this country bu
none Of commercial cassthe duty OF 10 per cent I'M
posed equally the rough and the cut stones making
profitable dealer, TO take advantage Of foreign work
manship OF that kind No. the demand for caeos Il not
40 large a. was few years ago by caprice OF fashion,
but always fair Justnow, indeed tits getting
the fashion engaged persons 10 give each other their
portraits in cameo. Where do the stones come from
The best are from Brazil great many are found IN Ger
many some IL Sardinia, and few In France. They are
usually all sent 10 London and sold there in the rough
al public auction Afterwards they arc sent 10 Germany
TO into smaller stones. Did you know tAat they
are always found bOuders Yes, and have heard that
some weigh as much 400 pounds. The stone Is
species of onyx and sardonyx 1t comes IN layers of
different coors superimposed on the other These
layers are black and white, pink and white red and
white, green and white. transparent gray and milk
white many of the ancient canoes are made IN thls)'
brown and white &c. The heat Of the sum- orhea applied
I'm the workshop, produces the Jet black color come
times an acid Is used deepen the white color. As
or figure and the dark-coored layer for the ground
"Itis sometimes very dcult to get one stone OF the
better kind without having buy large number of them
Hure for instance is cigar box full OF blackandcream
coored for which had TO pay $500 In order 10
get one Of that kind Yes stones OF but one color are
also in the trade, for gentemens seals rings, &c
the cutting being usually not raised or embossed
bur sunken or intagO work The qualifications need to
be good cutters Well We must learn the art OF draw
ing Of course well the klful use of the tools You
will find, think that quite number OF our painter
artists have first graduated from work OF TINS Ed or
work allied TO IT, Ike engraving. Thus the welknOwn
sculptor, Mr. St Gaudens. was ellow-stndent with me
In CameO-Cuttng years ago seven or eight years OF
practice are really necessary before one can become
good cutter There f. the chance here TO make
wooden face or an expressive face that there In other
Clvptc arts As to prices &C. they depend on the size
and quality and the of the work to be
dOne-whcthcr minute or not, whether full face or
profile &c. Sometimes yOn see In tins one, we make
proes OF two faces set against the other on the
same sisters, OF married couple II the
cameo s lost easily replace IT, as II Is our prac
ce sending work out TO take plaster OF IT,
II so desired The time taken TO cut cameo2 We usually
ask for month OfCOurse canoes are used for all sorts
of purposes-breast-pns sCarfpins, cabnetcoections
rings sleeve-b0ttOns seals, &c. There Is perfect flood
OF Imitation work, yOu know, made OF enamel or glass
Would you believe It, many persons, despite the an
tauity of the hardly be convinced that do not
cu the gure bust out Of store and then glue II
on the stone used rs ground!