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A Cameo is a
jewel, a work of art and a family treasure, all in one.
Cameos are made out of conch shells. The two most popular
are Cornellian shell (cypraecassis rufa) with orange background and sardonix shell (cassis
Madagascariensis) brown
background.
These shells are used because they have two layers with two
different colours. Carving a piece of shell from the outside
to the inside with different size tools (called "Bulino")
the artist works on the first layer of the shell to make
subject and live the inside of the shell as background.
Cameos are also made out of mother of pearl shell, Rosalina
shell (Strombus Gigas) or coral.
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