But not all of his clients are famous. “Interestingly, the last year has seen more commissions for people’s puppies than portraits,” he laughs. “People want whatever they love to be immortalised in stone.” Also – there’s something pretty cool about a huge rottweiler’s face turned into a precious jewel.
But given his family’s craft’s history, Amedeo decided to create a very special piece for the newly minted Duke and Duchess of Sussex – a double portrait of the newlywed couple carved from precious Sardonyx shell.
The Duchess appears in a tiara, necklace and earrings (it’s not like he got a sneak peek of her wedding jewellery ), the Duke behind her, fully bearde but unmistakably Harry.
Set in a frame of diamond-set silver feathers and gold, and hung from a long chain, he intended to gift the piece to Kensington Palace until he found out the rules regarding value (this baby isn’t worth less than £150).
Never mind though – the last royal portrait he made of Queen Elizabeth was snapped up by a wealthy client from South East Asia – who revels in sending photos of herself wearing it to the jeweller via Snapchat.
Two weeks’ work hasn’t gone entirely wasted then – but if I was him, I’d hold onto this piece for posterity. Imagine what it might fetch at auction in the decades to come….
