SOLD 18th century Large Georgian Emerald and Diamond Earrings

Jewelry : Antique : Fine : Georgian

 

We can only imagine the elegant lady whose ears were graced by these dramatic earrings- in her gown, dancing by candle light!

These antique earrings measure 2 1/4" in length. The shape and stone setting technique dates them to circa 1780. They are likely to be Spanish or Portuguese in origin. Emeralds in pinched gold bezel settings and flat cut diamonds cover the fronts. The diamonds are small and single-faceted. They are "buried" on the silver and subtly accent the silver settings. I see that in some of the photos it appears that stones are missing, but if you look in other photos you will see that they are there. The underside of the earrings were covered with a thin sheet of gold to prevent tarnish from getting on the skin. The original ear wires were probably replaced long ago, and more recently these posts were soldered on using a laser torch. Having them sit a little bit on the ear makes them easy to wear. They have some weight to them, and having them dangle would make them feel heavier. Formal earrings from this period were often quite heavy!

The earrings were worn and enjoyed by their former owners and have some wear to some of the stones. This is to be expected- after all, they are over 200 years old! But they have character and charm which has not been replicated by modern imitators.

Item ID: J 274