A cameo is a carving done in relief, and is typically designed so that it has two colors. There are two ways to accomplish this. The first is to use a seashell or stone which has natural coloured bands (such as the example below set in a 9ct gold surround). The carving can be carefully designed so that the figure is in a lighter color and the background is darker. In some cases, the colour contrast may be enhanced with the use of bleach or dye. The other technique is to use two different stones, or layers of glass, gluing them together with care to form a seamless cameo. A cameo brooch is a brooch or pin which is made with a cameo, which was very popular in Victorian times and is typically a portrait of a woman.

Cameo Brooch (set in 9ct gold mount)