Your Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wedding - Apr/May 2019 (Issue 76)

JEWELLERY 79  Oxford’s Bag The Jewels offers antique jewellery from Victorian, Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles to vintage costume jewellery from the 1920s to the 1980s. There’s vintage wedding jewellery and bags in its bridal section, and gentlemen’s cufflinks and tie pins too. Here, Bag The Jewels tells us about the big-day possibilities of cameo jewellery. THE VINTAGE SPECIALIST: BAG THE JEWELS, BAGTHEJEWELS.CO.UK A cameo jewel is a labour of love, delicately hand-carved on either a shell or a layered hard-stone such as sardonyx, coral, turquoise or lava. The raised relief gives a contrasting effect to create an exquisite picture portrait that can then be incorporated into a piece of jewellery, and the history and romance of such a jewel makes it perfect for use at a wedding. In the ages before photography, a carved cameo of a lover gave a portable image to treasure, while that of a monarch provided a perfect reward for a loyal subject. During the Grand Tour era, a carved cameo would often be the souvenir of choice. The piece was brought home to then be mounted into real gold or silver to create wearable jewellery. The best cameos are often from Italy, where the art is still practiced today, predominantly using seashells, and cameo rings are perfect for engagements and betrothals. There are also earrings, necklaces, bracelets and the versatile brooch. The brooch is a splendid jewel for weddings. It can be worn by anyone in the bridal party and can simply be pinned on a garment, be part of the hair accessory or used to adorn sashes, bags, bouquets or even the ribbons that decorate the cake. To embrace the cameo as a theme, you could consider it as part of your table décor or favours, such as biscuits iced with cameo designs, or could use a silhouette cameo on your wedding stationery. There are even artists who will cut life-like portrait silhouettes to entertain your guests at the wedding breakfast. madderandmadder.co.uk madderandmadder.co.uk madderandmadder.co.uk