The use of lava stone in cameos and other jewellery dates back to ancient times. The ancient Greeks and Romans were known to use lava stone in their jewellery, particularly in the creation of cameos. Lava stone, also known as basalt, is formed from the solidification of molten lava. It is a hard, dense rock that is durable and capable of holding fine details. The black and grey colour of the stone provides an excellent contrast for carving designs and portraits.

The ancient Greeks and Romans would carve images into the lava stone using sharp tools. The raised areas of the design would be polished, while the background was left rough. This technique, known as "intaglio," was used to create intricate designs and portraits. The resulting cameos were often mounted in gold or silver settings and worn as jewellery.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, cameos made from lava stone more...

59 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

Victorian lava & yellow gold Fortuna cameo brooch approx item…

Victorian Fortuna Cameo Brooch in Lava and 18ct Gold

Victorian lava & yellow gold Fortuna cameo brooch approx item size 44 x 3 4 mm, weight 24.78 grams, old glue to the back join, tests as 18ct

Antique carved lava bacchanalia cameo brooch seti in silver…

Carved lava Bacchanalia cameo brooch in silver gilt setting

Antique carved lava bacchanalia cameo brooch seti in silver gilt. Approx 3 6 x 3 1 mm

Lava cameo & 18ct rose gold pendant brooch marked 18ct. Approx…

Lava Cameo 18ct Rose Gold Pendant Brooch, Marked 18ct

Lava cameo & 18ct rose gold pendant brooch marked 18ct. Approx size 33 x 2 6 mm, weight 14 grams

Well carved lava & 9ct yellow gold brooch depicting Athena.…

Athena Carved Lava & 9ct Gold Brooch, A&C Marked

Well carved lava & 9ct yellow gold brooch depicting Athena. Marked 9ct A&C. Approx weight 30 grams

Carved lava cameo & silver gilt ear clips length 52 mm, showing…

Ma'at Goddess Lava Cameo Silver Gilt Ear Clips

Carved lava cameo & silver gilt ear clips length 52 mm, showing the the Egyptian goddess Ma'at

Antique lava cameo brooch with later tassle & clasp, size 28 x…

Antique lava cameo brooch with tassel and clasp, 28x24mm

Antique lava cameo brooch with later tassle & clasp, size 28 x 24 mm

15ct gold Hardy Brothers 'Lava' cameo brooch, early 20th…

Early 20th Century 15ct Gold 'Lava' Cameo Brooch/Pendant

15ct gold Hardy Brothers 'Lava' cameo brooch, early 20th century, stamped '15ct H.Bros', depicting a young woman in profile in carved limestone, with 15ct gold bezel set surround, with bail verso for pendant use, 4.2 cm x 3.5 cm

Early 19th century carved lava cameo and rose gold brooch,…

Socrates Lava Cameo Brooch with Rose Gold Frame

Early 19th century carved lava cameo and rose gold brooch, showing an Athenian philosopher, Socrates in high relief, size 38 x 32 mm, crack to body.

Circa 1880 Victorian 15ct framed lava cameo bracelet carved in…

Victorian Lava Cameo Bracelet and Earrings Set

Circa 1880 Victorian 15ct framed lava cameo bracelet carved in high relief with classical portraits with matching earrings, screw backs 19 cm bracelet length

A Victorian lava cameo brooch, a classical figure, in a…

Victorian Lava Cameo Brooch in Silver Filigree Frame

A Victorian lava cameo brooch, a classical figure, in a filagree silver plate frame.

A pair of antique lava cameo earrings, each a round and…

Antique Lava Cameo Earrings with Carved Torso Design

A pair of antique lava cameo earrings, each a round and elongated carved cameo featuring torso set in nickel silver, length 55 mm.

Antique carved cameo and lava bracelet set in base metal, the…

Romrei Lava Cameo Bracelet Set

Antique carved cameo and lava bracelet set in base metal, the lava spell 'Romrei'. length 18 cm

An antique lava cameo bracelet, 11 plaques featuring portraits…

Antique Lava Cameo Bracelet with Brass Frames

An antique lava cameo bracelet, 11 plaques featuring portraits and flowers in brass frames, broken clasp, some chips, length 17 cm.

An antique lava stone bangle, the hinged bangle in grey carved…

Grey Lava Stone Bangle with Rose Gold Fittings

An antique lava stone bangle, the hinged bangle in grey carved lava stone with fittings in 9ct rose gold.

An impressive Victorian carved lava bracelet, five panels of…

Victorian Lava Carved Cherub Bracelet

An impressive Victorian carved lava bracelet, five panels of various coloured lava carved in relief with cherubs, set into gold plated frames, length 17 cm.

A late 19th century Italian carved lava cameo bracelet, the…

Italian Lava Cameo Bracelet with Women's Profiles

A late 19th century Italian carved lava cameo bracelet, the nine variously carved and toned portrait panels of women in profile, white metal frames and links attached, some attention required.

Antique carved lava cameo bracelet, set in gilt metal.…

Hellenistic Ladies Lava Cameo Bracelet

Antique carved lava cameo bracelet, set in gilt metal. Depicting Hellenistic busts of ladies, approx length 19 cm . Ten 10 mm x 15 mm cameos

Antique Dutch carved lava cameo and silver brooch, with a very…

Dutch Lava Cameo Cherub Silver Brooch

Antique Dutch carved lava cameo and silver brooch, with a very well carved figure of cherub. With Dutch smalls hallmark to hand made setting. Probably 1814-1905, approx height 53 mm x 46 mm wide. Old repair to neck

A Victorian lava cameo parure, the graduated necklace set with…

Victorian Lava Cameo Necklace and Bracelet Set

A Victorian lava cameo parure, the graduated necklace set with twenty one lava cameos depicting females in profile, with three feature lava cameo drops, total length 500 mm, together with a bracelet of conforming design, total length 170 mm.

A sterling silver lava stone intaglio ring, one oval carved…

Silver Lava Stone Intaglio Ring with Carved Cameo

A sterling silver lava stone intaglio ring, one oval carved lava stone cameo mounted in a silver frame, break to back of band

A Victorian 9ct rose gold cameo lava Pompeii bracelet, c 1860,…

Victorian Rose Gold Cameo Lava Bracelet

A Victorian 9ct rose gold cameo lava Pompeii bracelet, c 1860, twelve oval cameos carved in high relief in lava depicting a lady, in alternate colours inset in rose gold frames, length 18.5 cm

A 9ct yellow gold & sterling silver lava cameo ring, a…

Victorian Lava Cameo Ring in Gold & Silver

A 9ct yellow gold & sterling silver lava cameo ring, a Victorian lava cameo of a lady mounted in a modern silver & gold ring size M, Wt5.5 grams

An antique gold lava cameo brooch, 9ct double bar brooch…

9ct Lava Cameo Double Bar Brooch with Portrait Cameos

An antique gold lava cameo brooch, 9ct double bar brooch applied with 2 portrait cameos (chipps).

A Victorian lava cameo bangle, featuring an oval cameo within a…

Victorian lava cameo bangle in 9ct gold

A Victorian lava cameo bangle, featuring an oval cameo within a decorative border, to a hinged tapering bangle with engraved decoration, in 9ct gold.

Antique carved cameo brooch of Apollo. Size profile carved lava…

Carved Apollo Cameo Brooch with Gilt Metal Frame

Antique carved cameo brooch of Apollo. Size profile carved lava in a gilt metal frame, approx 40 mm high. A/F Gold chain

A 19th century carved cameo portrait panelled and gold bracelet,…

Grecian Lava Cameo Bracelet with Gold Mounts

A 19th century carved cameo portrait panelled and gold bracelet, the famous Grecian portraits carved in grey lava in high relief, each within a plain 9ct. rose gold mount with short chain fittings.

Carved cameo jewellery set, includes a carved lava figure of a…

Cameo and Lava Jewelry Set with Pocahontas Earrings

Carved cameo jewellery set, includes a carved lava figure of a maenad women in a gilt frame. A pair of carved lava drop earrings depicting Pocahontas

A late 19th century Italian lava cameo bracelet, the eleven…

Italian Lava Cameo Portrait Bracelet with White Metal Fittings

A late 19th century Italian lava cameo bracelet, the eleven various portrait panels carved in relief, white metal fittings.

Pair of Antique lava cameo earrings, screw fittings

Antique Lava Cameo Earrings with Screw Fittings

Pair of Antique lava cameo earrings, screw fittings

Silver puff heart pendant on silver chain, with a silver and…

Silver Heart and Lava Pendant Necklace

Silver puff heart pendant on silver chain, with a silver and lava pendant

Good Victorian lava cameo brooch

Victorian Lava Cameo Brooch

Good Victorian lava cameo brooch

Good Victorian lava cameo earrings, drop can be detached

Victorian Lava Cameo Drop Earrings

Good Victorian lava cameo earrings, drop can be detached

Victorian Grand Tour lava cameo bracelet

Victorian Lava Cameo Bracelet: Grand Tour Style

Victorian Grand Tour lava cameo bracelet

Three Victorian Gothic revival lava stick pins, featuring a…

Victorian Gothic Revival Lava Stick Pins

Three Victorian Gothic revival lava stick pins, featuring a maiden with head-dress and gold detailed necklace, a gargoyle with gold detailed wings and tongue having diamond set eyes and a skull with ruby set eyes, fittings in gold.

A Victorian lava cameo bracelet, the five cameos depicting…

Victorian lava cameo bracelet

A Victorian lava cameo bracelet, the five cameos depicting classical female profiles. Weight 57.11 grams. Length 19 cm. A/F

A Victorian lava cameo brooch, depicting a maiden with bird and…

Victorian Lava Maiden Cameo Brooch with Gold Frame

A Victorian lava cameo brooch, depicting a maiden with bird and goblet in high relief within an oval frame with applied detail. 18ct yellow gold. Weight 78.41 grams. Length 7.5 cm. Width 6.5 cm

Vintage lava brooch

Retro Lava Brooch

Vintage lava brooch

An antique lava cameo necklace and bracelet, composed of multi…

Multicolored Lava Cameo Necklace and Bracelet Set

An antique lava cameo necklace and bracelet, composed of multi coloured carved portrait cameos, bracelet in silver, necklace cameos set in metal to silver belcher chain.

Antique seven graduated cameo lava bracelet

Seven-Step Antique Lava Cameo Bracelet

Antique seven graduated cameo lava bracelet

Victorian gold mounted lava hinged bracelet in the antique…

Victorian Gold Lava Bracelet with Lion Masks

Victorian gold mounted lava hinged bracelet in the antique Roman manner of central panel held by two lions masks

Two antique carved Italian lava cameos

Italian Lava Cameo Pair

Two antique carved Italian lava cameos

A lava cameo bracelet. 9ct yellow gold, Victorian, made as a…

Victorian Lava Cameo Bracelet with Women in Profile

A lava cameo bracelet. 9ct yellow gold, Victorian, made as a connected series of oval lava cameos, each depicting a woman in profile, bezel set in open backed mounts, varied in colours, connected by small links, fitted with slide clasp and safety chain

A lava cameo brooch together with a pair of vintage pink…

Lava Brooch & Vintage Gemstone Earrings in Bakelite Case

A lava cameo brooch together with a pair of vintage pink gemstone & pearl earrings in Bakelite case

A Victorian lava cameo brooch.

Victorian Lava Cameo Brooch

A Victorian lava cameo brooch.

Antique lava cameo brooch of 'Flora', in box. Approx 4 cm…

Antique Lava Cameo Brooch of Flora in Box

Antique lava cameo brooch of 'Flora', in box. Approx 4 cm square with gold plated mount

A pair of lava rock and pearl cameo earrings, each set with a…

Lava Rock and Pearl Cameo Earrings in 9ct Gold

A pair of lava rock and pearl cameo earrings, each set with a round lava rock panel depicting a classical figure in profile, within a gold frame suspending a pearl, mounted in 9ct gold.

An Italian lava brooch, carved rectangular panel; 9ct gold.…

Italian Lava Carved Panel Brooch in 9ct Gold

An Italian lava brooch, carved rectangular panel; 9ct gold. Weight 10.3g.

A lava cameo brooch, Victorian, oval in shape, the outer frame…

Victorian Lava Cameo Brooch with Onyx Frame

A lava cameo brooch, Victorian, oval in shape, the outer frame set as faceted onyx, overlaid with a smaller white lava cameo depicting a woman in high relief, fitted with pin to reverse on back plate

A lava cameo brooch, late 19th century and a shell cameo…

Lava and Shell Cameo Brooches with Romantic History

A lava cameo brooch, late 19th century and a shell cameo pendant, early 20th century, comprising an oval-shaped lava cameo depicting a bacchante wearing a headdress of fruiting vine and holding a basket of fruit, mounted within a polished rose gold…

9ct gold bracelet with some lava cameos, approx 19 grams,…

Lava Cameo 9ct Gold Bracelet & Rock Accessories Set

9ct gold bracelet with some lava cameos, approx 19 grams, together with other lava rock items

A Victorian lava cameo bangle. 9ct yellow gold.

Victorian Lava Cameo Bangle in 9ct Yellow Gold

A Victorian lava cameo bangle. 9ct yellow gold.

Antique Italian gilt metal & lava cameo bracelet 7 cameos,…

Italian Lava Cameo Bracelet with Gilt Metal Accents

Antique Italian gilt metal & lava cameo bracelet 7 cameos, approx 17.5 cm in length, largest cameo approx 3.5 cm in length.

A carved lava cameo ladies bracelet (A/F)

Lava Cameo Ladies Bracelet - Carved Beauty

A carved lava cameo ladies bracelet (A/F)

A lava cameo bracelet, comprising twenty two lava cameos in…

18ct Gold and Lava Cameo Bracelet

A lava cameo bracelet, comprising twenty two lava cameos in graduated neutral tones, to frames and spacer links in 18ct gold, total length 175 mm.

A lava cameo portrait brooch and pair of earrings. (2)

Lava Cameo Set: Brooch and Earrings

A lava cameo portrait brooch and pair of earrings. (2)

Black stone necklace probably lava rock

Lava Rock Necklace

Black stone necklace probably lava rock

A lava cameo brooch, gilt, made as a classic oval shaped plaque…

Lava Cameo Brooch with Roman Woman Headdress

A lava cameo brooch, gilt, made as a classic oval shaped plaque of carved lava cameo, depicting a Roman woman with fine leaf and tendril detail to headdress, bezel set in an open mount, fitted with pin to reverse

A cameo brooch, the oval lava cameo depicting a finely detailed…

Lava Maiden Cameo Brooch by Abbondanza in 9ct Gold

A cameo brooch, the oval lava cameo depicting a finely detailed maiden, to a 9ct gold frame, signed Abbondanza

Early 9ct yellow gold framed carved stone brooch. Horse and…

9ct Gold Horse & Chariot Cameo Brooch

Early 9ct yellow gold framed carved stone brooch. Horse and chariot cameo decoration in lava stone. Weight 28g (total)