Description
Antique earrings garnet and gold scroll 2″ long dangling earrings
Stunning late Victorian ornate garnet drop earrings
Crafted in 9ct gold they are elegantly designed with scrolling motifs centre with a pear shaped garnet
These fabulous earrings are so flattering when worn
- 5cm (2″) drop from top of shepherds hook
- They date to the late Victorian period (circa 1890)
- Weight 5.3 grams
- Test 9ct gold
- Comfortable shepherds hooks
- In excellent original condition
- They come in the presentation box illustrated
- our ref: 22155
In past times garnet jewellery was abundant and modestly priced, but recently the price of of good antique pieces has resulted in a rapid and justifiable reassessment of their status. Garnet is found in several colours, although red is the most common. There are two distinct red varieties found in antique jewellery: Pyrope Garnet Blood red garnet used extensively in 18th and 19th century. Georgian pyrope garnets were invariably cut flat and oval in shape, set in gold and frequently foiled to improve their appearance. Common Georgian designs included cushion-shaped brooches with half pearl decoration and hair locket centers, flower spray brooches, graduated collet riviere, and necklaces of foliate design sometimes suspending below a Maltese cross pendant convertible to a brooch. 19th century pyrope garnets were used abundantly during the “Grand” period mid-Victorian opulence and were ideal gems for extravagant effect. A popular fashion involved cutting garnets “en cabochon” and hollowing out the backs to lighten the look of the stones. Cabochon garnets are often referred to as “carbuncles”. Pyrope garnets were used in the 19th century Czechoslovakian and German jewellery in pavé-set clusters of multi-faceted stones. Known as Bohemian garnets, they were often mounted in low grade gold or in guilt metal in hundreds of different designs, from modest brooches to elaborate teardrop necklaces.
How to care for your beautiful antique earrings of garnet and gold : use soap,warm water and a soft toothbrush, then rinse under warm running water.Then the gold parts can be rubbed with a gold cleaning cloth.
