These bloomed yellow gold earrings have egg-shaped drops, which are decorated with a filigree pattern of gold wire and tiny spheres.
Their design, and the goldsmithing techniques used to create them, are influenced by ancient jewellery designs. The discovery of several Etruscan tombs in the 1860s created a craze for neo-Etruscan fashion, and therefore Etruscan influences can be found in lots of Victorian jewels.
'Bloomed' gold has received a chemical process that removes a minute layer of the gold alloy at the top, creating an alloy-free, thin layer of soft, pure gold on the surface. Since ancient jewellery is often made of high-karat gold, blooming was often used to mimic the buttery gold colour of these antique pieces.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Size: 48 x 14 mm.
Weight: Combined weight 7.84 grams.
Age: 19th Century, also known as the Victorian era, circa 1860s.
Material: Marked '15c', indicating they were made in the United Kingdom: also hallmarked with Dutch hallmarks for 14k gold.
Condition: In good antique condition, with only minor wear, consistent with their age.
Please note that the antique box is for display purposes.