Cameo artisans

My son and daughter-in-law, who came back from their European tour, have, of course, much to tell about but what impressed me most is the lifelong devotion of the cameo craftsmen, who use sea shells as their raw materials.

These artisans do not learn their craftsmanship at school, but usually have been apprentices since an early age and in most cases, the skill is transferred from father to son, so the craftsmanship stays in the family from generation to generation. No wonder exquisite cameos, of excellent quality, made by a "master" with 30 or 40 years' of experience is quite expensive. The product made by an apprentice is much cheaper.

The tour guide explained to them that sitting behind a desk working with a magnifying glass and minuscule tools, day in day out, for 40 years, takes a terrible toll on the cameo craftsmen. Usually, he loses his sight, while his health deteriorates and within a few years after he stops working he dies. A tragic death of a true artist who dies for art's sake.

A cameo is a medallion with a profile cut in raised relief.

A. DJUANA

Jakarta