A British hallmarked 9 carat gold cameo brooch featuring a hand-carved shell profile of a classical female figure. The subject is depicted in right-facing profile with elaborate wavy hair adorned with a floral bloom and a matching floral accent on her draped garment. The carving is executed in white relief against a brownish-orange ground, likely using a Cassis madagascariensis shell. The cameo is secured in a yellow gold frame featuring a polished inner bezel and an outer twisted-rope border. The reverse is fitted with a simple pin and C-clasp mechanism, along with a small suspension loop at the top for a safety chain. The item is presented on its original white plastic retail card which bears two printed labels reading REAL ITALIAN CAMEO and 9 CARAT GOLD HALL MARKED.

A series of five hallmarks are struck on the outer edge of the frame (photo 2 and 3). These include the maker’s mark JHB, the finality mark 375 within a rectangular frame denoting 9 carat gold, an anchor symbol for the Birmingham Assay Office, and a lowercase letter f in a shaped shield which serves as the date letter for 1980.

Weight: 7.06 gm.