Friday Favorite Flea Finds: October 17, 2025
Discovered at Randolph Street Market, this Italian Camexco cameo set recalls the artistry of Rome and the romantic elegance of Victorian fashion.
Cameos are one of the most classic pieces of jewelry one can have in their collection. They were introduced to fashion history in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia and have often been associated with Italian jewelry and art, which holds a long tradition of cameo making. In modern times, it reached its height in popularity during the Victorian era, with the ultimate fashion icon of the time, Queen Victoria, a fan.
Spotted at KDR Curations’ booth at the September 27-28, 2025, Randolph Street Market, this post earring and pendant necklace set features cameos depicting artistic renditions of Roman soldiers wearing a galea. The costume jewelry sits in its original box, which reads “Finest Hand Carved Cameos. Camexco. Made in Italy” with a globe logo printed between the earrings.
There is not much information available about Camexco. It was an Italian company that began in the mid-twentieth century, and as hinted by its name, it specialized in and sold worldwide hand-carved shell cameos.
Despite its obscure provenance, Camexco currently has a presence in the second-hand market and can be purchased at antique stores and online sites like eBay and Etsy. The pieces currently for sale online are offered at affordable prices, ranging from as low as $50 to hundreds of dollars.
Many of these Camexco pieces are sold as sets with matching or coordinating cameo earrings, necklaces, and/or bracelets. Unlike the variation spotted at the Randolph Street Market, these pieces hold a more feminine quality through displaying a profile of a beautiful Roman-style woman. No matter the gender, all Camexco cameos appear to show Roman motifs that recall both Italian art history and the Victorian cameo trend of mythical carvings of gods and goddesses, soldiers, and historical scenes.
For more information about cameo jewelry, read Dr. Anthony Cavo’s article, “The History of Cameo Jewelry,” here.
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