Antique Fluorite Cameo Pendant

An unusual antique carved green fluorite cameo pendant (approx. 30cts), finely worked in high relief and depicting a Classical female bust in Roman style. The carving is executed in natural fluorite - a mineral rarely used for such intricate work - and would have required considerable skill and bravery from the lapidary. The stone displays distinctive natural colour zoning, with bands of pale and deep green intersected by a milky white streak that runs delicately across the figure’s eyes.

The cameo is set in a simple, elegant gold mount of later date, likely mid-20th century, which complements the earlier carving, which probably dates from the 19th century. Tested as 18K gold, the pendant has a fine weight of 9.85 grams and measures 3 centimetres in height (3.5 centimetres including the bail), 2 centimetres in width, and 1 centimetre in depth.

From the reverse, a small loss can be seen at one corner of the stone, though this is barely visible from the front and does not detract from the pendant’s appearance. The cameo itself is antique, dating from the late 19th to early 20th century, and remains a rare survival in such a fragile material. Tested by the Gemological Certification Services (GCS) as natural fluorite, this pendant is a distinctive and tactile piece that bridges antique craftsmanship and mid-century design.