These earrings were converted from a broken lava stone bracelet, which was beyond repair. The finials of the bracelet, in shaped of lion heads with gold fittings in their mouths, have been recut, and hooks were added to create these earrings.
Lava stone is a fairly soft material that can be easily carved. It was found beneath the Vesuvius, the famous volcano that left Pompeii and Herucaleum in ashes in 79 AD.
During the 18th and 19th Century, well to do youngster would do a 'Grand Tour' through Italy as part of their cultural upbringing. These tours could last from several weeks to even a few years. These travellers would often bring Grand Tour souvenirs back home which would remind them of their travels. Especially in Naples, a town near to the Vesuvius, a lot of lava stone jewellery was created to bring home, depicting ancient themes.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Size: 46 mm long: the lions measure 28 x 14 mm excluding the gold settings.
Weight: combined 11.60 grams.
Age: 19th Century, Victorian Era, circa 1860s.
Material: The original mountings in the mouth of each lion are 9k gold: the newly added fisher hooks are made from 14k gold.
Condition: In antique condition with signs of wear, consistent with their age.
Please note that the antique box is for display purposes.