Cameo #7
The Lion
Original Work by Grzegorz Kiernicki
Original Hand-Carved Work by Grzegorz Kiernicki
Image Gallery
Subject
The commanding face of a lion, carved frontally so that the animal looks directly outward from the shell.
The warm peach and amber-toned shell forms the background, while the pale upper layer has been carved into the lion’s face and surrounding mane.
Small areas of the warmer shell are exposed within the eyes, creating natural points of contrast.
The Story
“The Lion” is a highly sculptural hand-carved shell cameo by Grzegorz Kiernicki depicting the commanding face of a lion.
Grzegorz used the contrasting natural layers of the sea shell to create the composition. The warm peach and amber-toned shell forms the background, while the pale upper layer has been carefully carved into the lion’s face and surrounding mane.
Viewed directly from the front, the lion looks outward with a powerful symmetrical composition. The eyes, nose, muzzle and flowing sections of the mane have been individually modelled, and small areas of the warmer shell are exposed within the eyes, creating natural points of contrast.
The side profile reveals one of the most remarkable features of the piece. Rather than creating a shallow cameo, Grzegorz carved the lion’s muzzle and facial structure substantially above the shell background. The nose and muzzle project outward, giving the work the character of a miniature sculpture.
The lion is surrounded by a handmade silver frame with a finely textured surface. The restrained metalwork provides contrast against the smooth polished shell without distracting from the carving.
The reverse reveals the warm golden-orange natural shell and the handmade silver brooch mechanism.
At only 1¾ inches tall, “The Lion” demonstrates how Grzegorz Kiernicki approached cameo carving as miniature sculpture rather than simply decorative engraving.
Handcrafted by the Artist
This cameo was carved individually by Grzegorz Kiernicki and mounted by hand in his own workshop. Nothing about it is repeated: the material dictated the composition, and the setting was formed around the finished carving.
- —The lion portrait is carved entirely by hand by Grzegorz Kiernicki.
- —The relief is deeply sculptural rather than shallow or engraved.
- —The composition is strongly frontal and symmetrical.
- —The muzzle is pronounced and fully three-dimensional.
- —Each flowing section of the mane is individually carved.
- —The naturally contrasting layers of the sea shell are used rather than added colour.
- —The background retains its warm peach and amber shell tone.
- —The carving is raised in the pale upper layer of the shell.
- —The silver surround is handmade with a finely textured surface.
- —The brooch setting and pin mechanism are made by hand.
- —The natural shell remains visible from the reverse.
- —The construction is one-of-a-kind and made entirely by the artist.
Specifications
- Catalogue Number
- Cameo #7
- Artist
- Grzegorz Kiernicki
- Title
- The Lion
- Object Type
- Hand-Carved High-Relief Cameo Brooch / Wearable Art
- Weight
- 15.7 g
- Height
- 1¾ in
- Width
- 1½ in
- Thickness
- ¾ in
- Primary Material
- Natural shell
- Setting
- Handmade silver brooch setting with pin mechanism
- Form
- Oval high-relief cameo brooch
- Availability
- Available
- Collection
- Grzegorz Collection
Natural sea shell and silver. The carving material is natural sea shell; the brooch setting is silver, worked by hand.
Material & Silverwork Details
- —Carving material: natural sea shell, retaining its pale upper layer and warm peach to amber lower layer.
- —Metal: silver, worked by hand into a finely textured surround with an integral brooch mechanism.
- —Construction: hand-carved layered sea shell held in a handmade silver brooch setting with pin mechanism.
- —Relief: the lion’s muzzle and facial structure rise substantially above the shell field, with the nose projecting outward.
- —Reverse: the warm golden-orange natural shell remains visible within the handmade silver framework.
- —Finish: carving and silverwork are left exactly as made, with no smoothing, reconstruction or redesign.
Additional Detail Photographs
About Grzegorz Kiernicki
Grzegorz Kiernicki has spent a lifetime carving stone, shell, amber and antler by hand — first in Poland, later in Canada. He works without production moulds or repeated patterns, letting the grain, colour and flaws of each material decide the final form.
Every object in the Grzegorz Collection is a single, signed work made entirely by his own hands, and each one exists only once.