Ancient pendant thought to be thousands of years old found on beach
A photographer discovered a mysterious pendant which could be thousands of years old - hidden on a beach. Nikki Banfield, 43, found the glass 'cameo' about the size of a penny - with the depiction of a woman’s face.
They are known as 'glyptics', associated with ancient Greece and Rome, and have been around for thousands of years. Nikki says cameos became more popular jewellery pieces throughout the Victorian period.
She captures images from her local environment on the Isles of Scilly where she found the curio. She adopted her name The BareFoot Photographer due to venturing without shoes.
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Nikki said: "I always find when I'm on the beach and am not looking for things that that is when I find things. I spotted what I thought was a button at first glance.
"But upon scooping it up, and holding it up to the light, I realised it was something very different. We think this is a miniature glass cameo, rather than an intaglio - as the miniature head in the piece is raised, whereas in an intaglio, the design would be imprinted."
Nikki is meeting with a curator in the local Scilly museum to see if they can confirm the mystery around the object. On Saturday (September 21) Nikki discovered the tiny object which is the size of a drawing pin head, whilst walking up town beach.
Nikki explained: "It is about the right size to have been used in a small piece of jewellery, either a ring or a necklace. Collectively known as glyptics, and most strongly associated with ancient Greece and Rome, cameo and intaglio have been around for thousands of years.
"Often used as talismans and for protection, they were carved with images of deities, mythological figures, animals, loved ones and narrative scenes. The optimist and romantic in me would love to think it was something ancient, with a wonderful story."