Pique is the term given to jewellery that is made from tortoiseshell that was inlayed with gold and silver, and here are a very beautiful pair of antique pique drop earrings from the Victorian era of the 1880's.
With the wonderful chocolate brown colour of the tortoiseshell that has the geometric design placed into it, each earring measures 41.1mm in length, or 48.8mm to the top of the shepherd hoods.
So comfortable that they can easily be worn all the time, they will also look so beautiful when worn well into the evening for that special occasion.
Pique jewellery is like no other and can never be found in reproduction jewellery making them even more special and unique.
Click here to read a brief article on pique jewellery: https://www.kalmarantiques.com.au/articles/history-of-pique-jewellery/
Stock# ES8659
Circa: 1880
$Sold.
Out of stock
Antique pique drop earrings from the Victorian era of the 1880's
Piqué jewellery is a style and type of jewellery all unto itself and one that cannot be reproduced today and is so unique and spectacular. Made most popular during the Victorian era, it can be found as far back as the 18th Century and was popular throughout most parts of Europe but mostly in Italy and England.
Piqué (pronounced “pee-kayâ€) is gold or silver – or sometimes a combination of both, inlayed into another material. Quite often the material was tortoiseshell (from the Hawksbill tortoise which was also used for the making of other tortoiseshell material such as boxes etc) and sometimes even from elephant ivory.
The tortoiseshell seemed to be the most popular, probably because of its light weight and being easy to “mould†into other shapes. Tortoiseshell is a natural thermoplastic , meaning that it is quite malleable when heated/warmed. Very fine gold or silver would be fashioned into either fine “rods†or “leaf†designs and the pressed into the already warmed tortoiseshell.After the gold and silver was set, the shell was left to cool down which would then contract to hold the metal in place.
Prior to 1870, the metals were cut by hand allowing for very fine and intricate detail then after 1870, machines started to do the work resulting in more straight and angular designs. The attention to detail no matter the age is always something that never ceases to amaze people especially when you consider that these pieces were often made well over 140 years ago and still look superb today.
Piqué jewellery can most commonly be found in earrings and pendants, and the designs and colouring are amazing to admire.
This form of jewellery making is now a lost art as both the elephant and Hawksbill turtle are protected species, meaning that piqué jewellery will become harder and harder to find as the years go by.
Click here to see more antique earrings that is currently in store:
https://www.kalmarantiques.com.au/product-category/antique/antique-earrings-antique/
Click here to see more antique pique jewellery that is currently in store:
https://www.kalmarantiques.com.au/product-category/antique/pique-jewellery-antique/
