Four Key Terms
When specifically talking about ENGRAVED GEMS themselves, the stones that have been engraved, there are four terms that are all-important and must be understood. They are, “Intaglio”, “Cameo”, “Impression”, and “Dactyliotheca”. Each of these, in one way or another, are often referred to as being a part of the field of “ENGRAVED GEMS”.
The first two, “Intaglio” and “Cameo” are actually the engraved stones. The third, “Impression” is a copy of one of the actual stones, but has commonly been included in the overall category. And, lastly, “Dactyliotheca” is a collection of one or more of the other three.
Let’s take a closer look.
What’s an Intaglio?
Intaglio is an Italian word that means incised or engraved into. In both Italian and “proper” English, it is pronounced /in’-TAL-yo/, the “g” being silent. In modern English language usage, however, it is more commonly pronounced /in-TAG-lee-o/.
The two most common uses of the term today refer to either a carved gemstone (what this site IS all about) or as a type of printing using an engraved or etched plate (which this site IS NOT about).
INTAGLIO – Engraved or incised into the gem
Where might you have seen an intaglio? The two most probable places where intaglios can commonly be seen in today’s world are:
1) in a seal kit, usually an initial or design engraved on a flat surface, mounted on a handle, which, when impressed on melted wax, leaves a raised impression — the seal. The engraved surface is the intaglio.
2) in jewelry, usually the stone in a man’s ring or cuff links or a woman’s earrings or pendant.
Just to confuse things, in today’s common usage the term “intaglio” is sometimes used to refer to any engraved gem. It is also used in many instances to refer to the impressions of engraved gems.
What’s a Cameo?
Cameo has its origins in Latin and Italian, having two meanings also. With regard to ENGRAVED GEMS, it means “engraving in relief upon a stone usually with two layers of colors”. It can also mean, in entertainment, a small or bit part, usually by a celebrity. Ours is the stone one.
CAMEO – Finished shape is in relief, raised higher than the background.
We usually see cameos in jewelry, many times as a pendant, brooch or earrings having the profile bust of a woman carved in shell or hardstone layered agate.
What’s an Impression?
With regard to ENGRAVED GEMS, An Impression is a cast replica or copy of the engraved gem itself (there are of course other common meanings, but we won’t go there). The reason the term is included here with other types of “real” engraved gems is that impressions have been made of original engraved gems for almost as long as the gems themselves have existed. Because the original gems are relatively scarce (and often expensive) the copies have often been included in collections of originals, even the finest collections. In that context the impressions have also been referred to as “engraved gems”, at least as part of a collection of.
The impressions have been produced in a wide range of materials including glass (paste), plaster, sulfur, and clay.
What’s a Dactyliotheca? — A What?
Dactyliotheca has its origins in Greek, being a combination of a couple of words meaning casket or container and jewelry or rings or other valuables. Looking up a definition in today’s parlance, one often finds a meaning of “ring cabinet”. With regard to ENGRAVED GEMS it’s meaning is a collection of engraved gems. A synonym is “cabinet”, often used without any explanation of its contents — none is needed when one is referring to ENGRAVED GEMS!
Many collectors have referred to a grouping or collection of engraved gems and/or impressions, usually together with a catalog, as “Dactyliotheca”
