Antique cameo and Whitby jet earrings dating from the 1890’s
These antique earrings are perfect for anyone who loves Whitby jet or cameos or in this case, conveniently both.
Dating from the late Victorian period of the 1890's, each earring measures 21.6mm wide by 54.2mm from the bottom to the very top of the shepherd hooks and look so elegant on the ear. The length of these earrings combined with the combination of Whitby jet and the cameo make them a truly sensational pair of earrings that are as beautiful as they are unique.
Whitby jet is a fossilized material of a tree called the Araucaria Tree which is also known as the Monkey Puzzle tree. Dense black in colour - which is where the term “Jet black” came from - the best material has always come from the town of Whitby in England, where it was mostly depleted by the end of the 20th century.
And then the shell cameo set into each earring not only adds some colour, but makes them truly amazing to admire from near or far.
The brown and white is emphasised even more by the black from the jet, and the carving of the jet captures the light so well.
Fitted on secure shepherd hooks, these antique earrings are just perfect for any occasion.
Stock # ES9139
Circa: 1890
$Sold
Antique pink shell cherub earrings dating from the 1870’s
These beautiful earrings date from the 1870's and are as fabulous today as when they were made.
Often cameos are carved out of the helmet shell which results in a cameo that is orange and beige to white in colour. These earrings however were been hand carved from the conch shell that has a very elegant pink to white colour that makes them look amazing day or night.
Measuring 13.7mm wide at their widest part, they measure an impressive 53.5mm in length from the top of the shepherd hook to the bottom. This elegant length will make them stand out at any occasion, and on the top there is a beautiful cherub that sits atop an double handled urn shaped vase that accentuates the gorgeous length of the earrings.
Still in wonderful condition after all these years, these antique earrings will constantly get the admiration that they rightly deserve.
Stock# ES1880
Circa: 1870
$Sold.
Antique sardonyx and enamel cameo earrings
Cameos are commonly carved from shell and rarely in harder materials as it takes a true master carver to get the detail when carving into harder material and here is an exquisite pair of antique sardonyx and enamel cameo earrings dating from the 1860's.
Sardonyx is a naturally layered material from the quartz family that is layered with white and a soft pink background that when carved allows the carver to show these colours to their best light. And the quality of carving for each of these earrings is nothing short of spectacular. The detail in each is captivating from their faces to the detail in the hair and there is no doubt that this was carved by a master carver.
Then the design of the earrings is so lovely with the 18ct gold setting and highlighted with white enamel and blue enamel. The colours of the enamel really accentuate these earrings so well, and from the bottom to the top of the shepherd hooks, this distance measures 41.6mm by 15.2mm wide at the centre.
These really are an exquisite pair of antique cameo earrings that take attention to detail to a whole new level.
Stock# ES7128
Circa: 1860
$Sold.