Elegant Earrings made from Antique Elements with Natural Pearls & Gold, c. 1910 & later

Elegant Swing

Elegant Earrings made from Antique Elements with Natural Pearls & Gold, c. 1910 & later

€ 1,290.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Description

This description was automatically translated from German. If you have any questions about this piece of jewellery, we will be happy to help!

We loved these earrings as soon as we discovered them in London: Shimmering natural pearls are set on gently swinging gold chains under a comfortable hoop made of high-carat gold. First, five larger pearls; then eight smaller pearls on long chains. The pearls used are special treasures, as they are naturally grown pearls, i.e. natural pearls, and not cultured pearls. However, they are not pearls from the sea, but river pearls, most likely from the USA. Jewellery with river pearls such as these, in baroque form, was very fashionable in the years shortly after 1900. The pearls used here and their gold mounts also date from this period. Unfortunately, we do not know exactly how the pearls were originally set. Perhaps they were part of a necklace, e.g. a long sautoir, or they were always earrings. The ear hoops were certainly added more recently. They make the earrings comfortable to wear - and ensure that the beautiful movement of the pieces can unfold wonderfully. Because they actually look best when worn: in gentle movement, with a beautiful curve and soft shimmer.

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The rivers and streams of North America are a particularly valuable source of high-quality freshwater pearls. In pre-colonial times, these waters were literally covered with mussel beds. Even though the development of the previously sparsely populated areas and subsequent industrialization have decimated the deposits considerably, the Mississippi river system in the south-east of the USA is still rich in mussels and pearls. Legend has it that the American river pearl was first discovered for jewelry making in 1857: shoemaker David Howell, penniless and without orders, tried to eat some of the freshwater mussels in his distress - probably an act of desperation, as these mussels are still not eaten in the USA today. But as soon as he opened the first mussel, the most beautiful pearls fell towards him. The very next day, together with his friend Jacob Quackenbush, he discovered a pink pearl with a diameter of 15 mm, which he was able to sell to Tiffany's for 1,500 dollars. The pearl eventually ended up with the French Empress Eugénie, the wife of Napoleon III, via a European dealer. In 1917, its value was estimated at 10,000 dollars! Due to environmental pollution, river mussels are rarer today than they used to be. Nevertheless, pearls of outstanding quality are still found today - from perfectly round pearls to winged pearls and the most bizarre baroque shapes.

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Size & Details

Elegant Swing

€ 1,290.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Our Promise

We want you to be 100% satisfied! For that reason, we examine, describe and photograph all of our jewellery with the utmost care.

You can rely on our years of experience in the trade and our expertise as a professional art historians for reviews of the antique jewellery. As a member of various trade organisations and the British Society of Jewellery Historians, we remain committed to the highest possible degree of accuracy. In our descriptions, we always also indicate any signs of age and defects and never hide them in our photos – this saves you from any unpleasant surprises when your package arrives.

Should you for some reason not be satisfied, please don’t hesitate to contact us so that we can find a solution together. In any case, you can return any article within one month and we will refund the full purchase price.

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Elegant Swing

Earrings

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