Carved bit of jewelry

CAMEO

This decorative piece often features a raised profile portrait, traditionally crafted from materials like shell or stone.

A "cameo" is a piece of jewelry featuring a raised design, often a carved portrait or scene, usually made from materials like shell, stone, or glass. The clue hints at this by describing it as a "carved bit of jewelry," which directly points to the defining characteristic of a cameo—its intricate, three-dimensional carving. The word itself doesn’t involve wordplay here; it’s a straightforward definition commonly used in crosswords for this type of ornamental item.