THESE EARRINGS evoke ancient gold jewelry found in Etruscan tombs around Cerveteri and Vulci, discoveries that absolutely blew the minds of the Victorians when they emerged from the earth in the mid-19th century. Archaeological Revival jewelers weren't just "inspired by antiquity" in a decorative sense. They often attempted near-scholarly reconstruction, studying museum collections and handling ancient jewels. Some were able to make plaster casts to bring back to their workshops. The tiny applied granules you see here were particularly hard to imitate. Etruscans had mastered the technique and the Victorians struggled to match it. One thing they did get right here: the movement. Etruscan jewelry was made to sway and catch firelight and candlelight. Here, the lower pendant is attached by a ring-and-pin mechanism so it swings with a heavy, fluid motion. Extremely high quality workmanship.
thedetails
- Materials
14k gold (tests)
- Age
c. 1870
- Condition
Very good - one tiny dent near the top of one earring
- Size
1 1/2" length measured from the top of the ear wire, 5/8" width
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Aboutthe
VictorianEra
1837 — 1901
The Victorians were avid consumers and novelty-seekers, especially when it came to fashion, and numerous fads came and went throughout the 19th century. In jewelry, whatever fashion choices Queen V. made reverberated throughout the kingdom. The Romantic period reflected the queen’s legendary love for her husband, Albert.
Jewelry from this period featured joyful designs like flowers, hearts, and birds, all which often had symbolic meaning. The queen’s betrothal ring was made in the shape of a snake, which stood for love, fidelity, and eternity. The exuberant tone shifted after Prince Albert passed away in 1861, marking the beginning of the Grand Period. Black jewelry became de rigeur as the Queen and her subjects entered “mourning,” which at the time represented not just an emotional state, as we conceive of it today, but a specific manner of conduct and dress. She wore the color black for the remainder of her life, and we see lots of black onyx, enamel, jet, and gutta percha in the jewelry from this time. Finally, during the late Victorian period, which transitioned along with a rapidly changing world into the “Aesthetic Movement”, there was a return to organic and whimsical motifs: serpents, crescent moons, animals, and Japonaisserie designed for the more liberated “Gibson Girl”. During the second half of the 19th century, America entered the global jewelry market, with Tiffany and Co. leading the way. Lapidaries continued to perfect their techniques, and the old European cut emerged toward the end of the Victorian period. The discovery of rich diamond mines in South Africa made the colorless stones more accessible than ever before.
please note:Terms of Sale
Antiques can be returned unworn and in original condition within 10 days of delivery for an exchange or refund minus the cost of shipping. Once a piece has been altered, including ring re-sizing, it is FINAL SALE.