Antique Victorian 18K gold acorn motive earrings

Antique jewelry object group: earrings

Condition: very good condition
  -  (more info on our condition scale)

Country of origin: France or Belgium (see explanation on hallmarks further in text)

Style: Victorian - Victorian decorative arts refers to the style of decorative arts during the Victorian era. The Victorian era is known for its eclectic revival and interpretation of historic styles and the introduction of cross-cultural influences from the middle east and Asia in furniture, fittings, and Interior decoration. Victorian design is widely viewed as having indulged in a regrettable excess of ornament. The Arts and Crafts movement, the aesthetic movement, Anglo-Japanese style, and Art Nouveau style have their beginnings in the late Victorian era.
  -  See also: Victorian or more info on styles

Style specifics: The Romantic Victorian Period - Experts divide the reign of Queen Victoria, also called The Victorian era (1837 - 1901) in to three periods of about twenty years each; The Romantic Victorian Period (1837 - 1860), The Grand Victorian Period (1860 - 1880), and the Late or Aesthetic Victorian Period (1880 - 1901).

We consider this to be of the Romantic Victorian Period. This period covers the coronation of Victoria as Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and her marriage to King Albert and their love, their devotion to their marriage and to their country are the sources of inspiration for this period. The jewels of this period are made of intricate carvings, special techniques where the enamel is subtly worked. These techniques allowed to give the jewel a certain opulence with less precious metal needed. As precious metals were really rare at that time. Highly favored (semi-) precious stones in this period are amethyst, coral, garnets, seed pearls and turquoises. The connotation is obviously sentimental, symbolic and romantic with reminiscent Gotic and/or Renaissance patterns and an abundant use of motifs like anchors, birds, branches, crosses, hearts and snakes.

Period: ca. 1840
  -  (events & facts of this era, poetry of this era, fashion of this era)

Source of inspiration: Mother Nature

Theme: Acorn - Acorns appear only on adult trees, and thus are often a symbol of patience and the fruition of long, hard labour. For example, an English proverb states that Great oaks from little acorns grow, urging the listener to wait for maturation of a project or idea. A German folk-tale has a farmer trying to outwit Satan, to whom he has promised his soul, by asking for a reprieve until his first crop is harvested; he plants acorns and has many years to enjoy first.

By analogy with the shape, in nautical language, the word acorn also refers to a piece of wood keeping the vane on the mast-head. In some cultures, it is said that good luck will follow if one carries acorns in one's pocket.

The Norse legend that Thor sheltered from a thunderstorm under an oak tree has led to the belief that having an acorn on a windowsill will prevent a house from being struck by lightning; hence the popularity of window blind pulls decorated as acorns. (From: Wikipedia)

Material: 18K yellow gold (touchstone tested)
  -  (more info on precious metals)

Hallmarks: The control mark here represents a horse’s head and was in use in Belgium from 1831 and in France from about 1838.
  -  (more info on hallmarks)

Dimensions: heigth 4,90 cm (1,93 inch) - See picture with a ruler in cm and inches

Weight: 4,10 gram (2,64 dwt)

Adin Reference Nº: 19066-0092

Copyright photography: Adin, fine antique jewellery

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