My object is an Italian cameo necklace. It was made in Italy in the 1800’s, and has been in my family for about 200 years. The history behind it is that it belonged to my great-great-great grandmother, Antoinette Bilotti, who lived in Calabria, Italy. It now belongs to my mom but will one day be given to me. A cameo is a seashell found in the Caribbean, that’s carved in Italy by professional carvers. The necklace is a cameo on silver and shows a feminine figure wearing a necklace with a diamond accent on it. Antique cameos also incorporated religious figures and scenes, floral motifs, and images from mythology. The finest cameos in the world were made in the city of Torre del Greco, Italy. Cameo jewelry were very valuable items that could be given to someone as a gift on special occasions. Depending on size, type, age and origin, the value of an antique cameo piece can come within any price range. This necklace is important because it’s the oldest artifact we have in my family going back generations.
 

– Caitlin M.

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more