Antique Victorian Carved Coral Drop Earrings

Name: Antique Victorian Carved Coral Drop Earrings
Brand: Unknown
Price: 4725 USD
Availability: InStock

About the Item

Coral jewelry, with a long history that dates back to Ancient Egypt and Ancient Rome, was especially popular during the Victorian era (1837-1901) for its curative and protective powers. The Romans believed in the good luck of coral, as well as in its therapeutic and medicinal properties, and the Etruscan revival in the 19th century brought coral front and center in jewelry. Dark reds and pale pinks were most commonly used, and the darker color saturation is exemplified in these Antique Victorian Carved Coral Drop Earrings, made sometime in the late 19th century. The 3 inch long (7.62 cm) earrings feature two coral oblong drops, hand-carved with much texture to depict a pair of pineapples. Precious coral has hardness of 3.5 on the Mohs scale, where diamond is rated the highest at 10. White is the most common shade of coral, but a variety of other shades can be found, including pink, orange, red and black. The rarest hue is a deep red. Most coral is set into inlays, beads, carvings, or cabochon shapes. The best quality coral has an even coloration with no fissures, spots, bands, or cavities. The pineapple made its way to England in the 17th century and by the 18th century, if you were a rich nobleman and wanted to impress, a pineapple at the dinner table was the way to go. Merely being seen with one was an instant indicator of wealth—a single pineapple would have cost the equivalent of $8,000 today. The pineapple was also a Victorian welcoming motif. Imperial travelers who went to remote Caribbean islands discovered that natives who hung the fruit in front of their entrances were welcoming to strangers. Thereafter, pineapples became widely considered a symbol of hospitality among the gentry in Europe. The concept traveled to the American colonies too. Adorning the tops of the pineapples, in 18K yellow gold, are beautifully detailed and generous offerings of grapes commingled with leaves on the coiling vines. Grapes could have symbolized charity, a favorite Victorian theme, as well as Christianity. The grapes are topped with carved coral roses, which for the Victorians signified love as they do today. During the Victorian era, jewels were considered a feminine object of beauty. The role of jewelry within Victorian culture was important in determining a woman’s identity and social status. Coral was considered a prized material, and the fruits depicted perhaps pointed to the virtues of the wearer. Each earring measures approx. 3" in length. Overall weight approx. 33.54 grams, made in 18k yellow gold. Circa Victorian Era, late 19th Century. ** Please note that these earrings cannot be shipped outside the US territory.

Metal:

18k Gold

Stone:

Coral

Stone Cut:

Mixed Cut

Dimensions:

Length: 3 in (76.2 mm)

Style:

Victorian

Place of Origin:

Unknown