The artists who carve the cameos sold at The Cameo Collection make their home in the idyllic fishing village in southern Italy, Torre del Greco. The town has been an international leader in shell cameo production since the eighteenth century, when engravers first set up workshops to use the coral brought back by local fishermen.
Master carver Gennaro Borriello is one of the leading cameo producers in Torre del Greco, and from him we purchase our shell cameos. Borriello employs numerous trained artists to help him complete the orders. As master carver, Borriello signs the back of every cameo he sells, also checking the finer details of each carving. The finishing touches he adds to a piece have been known to transform a beautiful cameo into a superb piece of art.
Gennaro Borriello is responsible for selecting the subject of each cameo produced by his artists. His men work from their homes, not a factory, etching the detail into each shell at their own pace. A number of these artists have also reached the highly-regarded status of master carver. Some of these carvers do custom work for us, and others have carved some of the finest, most artistic cameos we offer. They sign the front of each cameo they carve and a special certificate with their signature accompanies their work.