Cameo Makers Tools

After our tour of Pompeii we visited one of the oldest cameo factories in Naples. Cameos are hand carved from the shells of conches and other unique sea shells. The thin outer layer is filed down leaving a white layer upon which the designs are carved. Once it is completed, the unwanted white layer is carved away leaving the inner layer of colored shell as a background to the carved design. It takes years to learn the trade and the prices vary depending on the quality and how intricate the design.

"Cameo Maker's Tools" © Kathy Dunham 2009

Decorations in the Sauna - Pompeii

Although it's void of most of its original frescoes and mosaics, Pompeii is an amazing marvel of a 2,000 year old town in a well preserved state. When an erupting volcano buries you in ash in a 24-48 hour period, not much escapes. These beautiful decoarations ringed the upper edges of the central sauna. When they went to the gym, they went in style.

"Decorations in the Sauna - Pompeii" © Kathy Dunham 2009

The Villas of Stabiae

When Mt. Vesuvius blew her top in 79 A.D., Pompeii wasn't the only town covered with ash and mud. On the southern shore of the Bay of Naples is an area known as Stabiae where there were many exclusive villas for the wealthy to get away from the rigors of Rome. This image is part of the inner courtyard of the Villa San Marcos. There are a lot of wonderfully preserved frescoes and mosaic tiled floors, and there is still a lot to be uncovered. But if you'd like to see more of similar villas in this area all you have to do is visit the Getty Villa in Malibu. J. Paul Getty was quite a collector and managed to bring a lot of the neighboring villa to the U.S. for all to see.

“Villas of Stabiae” © Kathy Dunham 2009