I love cameos. I have only three of them, so it may be a stretch to call myself a collector. But I love to look at them, hold them in my hand, and wear them on a chain around my neck or pinned to my jacket. I’m not sure what the attraction is . . . only that I love the delicate carving, the contrast of a pale image against a darker background, and the feeling that I get when I wear one. They’re vintage and classic. Something about a cameo evokes a sense of grace, femininity, and elegance. Maybe I enjoy cameos because, somewhere deep down inside, I’d like to be That Kind of Woman–a woman worthy of having her likeness carved on a cameo.

Of course, as Christian woman I take my cues not from a piece of jewelry, but from the Word of God, which tells us that a woman’s worth comes not from her appearance, but from her faith and how she lives it out. She should adorn herself “in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire [or, one can assume, cameos], but with what is proper for women who profess godliness–with good works.” (1 Timothy 2:9-10. ESV).  If push came to shove, I’d rather bear the image of Christ on my life than the most beautiful image of  a stranger carved from bit of seashell or ivory.

That said, I do love my cameos. Here’s some more interesting information about this intriguing art form.