Let’s Reduce Confusion! Rose Cameo and Cameo Depression Glass Patterns

Here’s another in our series about look-alike patterns, this time clarifying two depression glass patterns that even have similar names: Rose Cameo by Belmont Tumbler and Cameo by Hocking Glass.

Here are two plates so you can see how similar these patterns are at first glance. First is Rose Cameo.

Now here is Cameo from Hocking:

Both plates have lovely swags that connect small motifs (giving the “Cameo” name) on the rim and a medallion in the center. They are similar. Let’s look more closely because the two patterns are easy to tell apart.

• Cameo by Hocking has the nicknames “Dancing Girl” and “Ballerina”.  The design in the little cameo medallion is a lady dancing.  It’s a bit stylized, but you can tell it is a dancer.
• Rose Cameo by Belmont has a flower in its cameo medallion.  Here’s a sherbet that shows it better.

• The names will help you recall which pattern has a flower and which one has a dancer.
• The medallion in the center of Hocking’s Cameo is fancier and more like a flower, while Rose Cameo has a more geometric design.
• Besides these design points, Rose Cameo has far fewer pieces and you’ll find only green.  There are only 7 pieces in all, 3 bowls, a single plate, a sherbet and 2 styles of footed tumblers.  Hocking’s Cameo has over 70 pieces to enjoy, plus you can collect yellow and some pink in addition to green.

Just remember the names:  Rose Cameo has a rose and Cameo (also known as Dancing Girl or Ballerina) has a dancer.  You won’t go wrong!