Antique Vintage Art Nouveau Sterling Silver Gold Wash Conch Cameo Earrings 4.9g

Description

We have similar Cameo and Art Nouveau items, which would pair nicely with this piece, for sale this week. To view in separate listings, please visit our store and search "Cameo" or "Nouveau" under our Buy-It-Now items.
Listing Description by: Angela A.
The Piece
Age Circa
: Art Nouveau C. 1890 - 1910
Markings
: "925" on the backings, tested, and guaranteed
Country of Origin
: Unknown
Brand
: Unknown
Gram Weight
: 4.9 grams
Metal Type
: .925 sterling silver with gold wash accents
Material
: --
Main Stone
:
Conch Shell
Main Stone Measurements/Color
:
Length:
12.84 mm
Width:
10.47 mm
Depth:
2.44 mm and 2.85 mm
Color:
semi-translucent cream and pink hues
Accent Stone
:
--
Accent Stone Measurements/Color
:
--
Stone Treatment:
The stone(s) appear to be untreated, but we are not certified gemologists. Stone(s) have been tested and guaranteed using a professional Presidium Duo refractive, heat, and hardness tester.
Stone Cuts
: Carved cabochon cameo
Item Measurements
:
Length:
0.64"
Width:
0.54" and 0.55"
Depth:
0.62" including backings
Earring Style
: Cluster
Earring Backing Style
: Screw-on backings. Your jeweler can easily convert these to the preferred backing style you desire.
For Pierced or Non-Pierced Ears
: Both
Notable Features
:
Handmade in the Art Nouveau era
These earrings are composed of .925 sterling silver with gold wash accents and feature two carved conch shell cameos
Cameos were popular souvenirs of the Grand Tour, a trip around Europe frequently taken by upper-class Europeans during this period
The conch shell is carved to create the cameo of a woman, her face in profile and looking down
The woman sports a flower in her hair and a classical, flowing updo popular during the Nouveau period
The image of the woman was carved from the outside of the shell and is a beautiful cream hue, while the lovely pink background is from the inside of the shell
A gold wash rope twist accent adorns the bezel setting of the cameo
Damage
: Age appropriate wear. There is tarnish on the sterling silver which gives the earrings a lovely antique quality.
*This listing is for the item only. All display boxes and/or photography props do not come with your purchase.*
The History
The Art Nouveau era, 1890-1910, was also called "La Belle Epoque" in French, which translates to "A Beautiful Time.”  This was very true due to the gorgeous designs that came out of this period.  This era focused on women and the beauty of nature and the pieces were often large. Enamel was a common material used in Art Nouveau jewelry as the period was more about the importance of the design over the materials used to create it. The Art Nouveau period happened before the start of the first World War, when mass manufacturing took over the production of many products, including some jewelry.
Archaeological revival jewelry was inspired by the excavations and discoveries of Roman, Byzantine, Egyptian, and Etruscan sites in the 18th and 19th Centuries. These archaeological digs uncovered beautiful works of decorative arts, giving jewelers a glimpse into the past for inspiration for contemporary designs. Some of the revival styles incorporate the use of filigree and granulation decorations. The revival styles emphasized the contrast between antiquity and modernity, with jewelers of the modern world borrowing motifs and techniques from the ancients, to perfect with advanced technologies and incorporate into modern designs.
The Grand Tour was a popular vacation during the Georgian and Victorian eras. This vacation was generally between two and four years long, and it allowed wealthy people the opportunity to study different cultures, architecture, and art. During this vacation, travelers would pick up pieces of jewelry, which allowed the introduction of techniques and styles such as cameos, mosaics, and pietra dura to be introduced into popular jewelry styles.
A cameo is an image that has been carved in raised relief by cutting away the background of different materials to create a contrast in height and color. The earliest examples of cameos date back to the 3rd century BC. In antiquity, this was achieved by carving into a single piece of banded agate to reveal the layers of colors, but now it is much more common that cameos are made of two different materials. The most common form of fine jewelry cameo is created by layering a carved white shell on top of a stone of contrasting color with a flat plane. Cameos usually depict a beautiful or famous person in profile, or a mythological figure. The Romans were true artisans when it came to creating these pieces, so there are many Roman cultural influences found in cameos, even to this day. These are true miniature art works.
Domestic US:
All items ship within one business day of receiving payment. Buyers will have 3 base shipping options to choose from, depending on the needed speed of delivery. Pricing on single and multi-purchase transactions can be seen below:
Auction Items:
Base shipping + .00 per additional gold item & BIN items combine for free
BIN Items:
FREE
Base Shipping:
USPS
First Class
: .00 fully insured, estimated 3-5 business days
USPS
Priority Mail
: .00 fully insured, estimated 2-3 business days
USPS
Priority Express
: .00 fully insured, overnight delivery
International
: All packages are sent via USPS and pricing is based on buyer location. Each customer will receive a revised invoice at the close of the auction with an updated shipping rate. We will combine shipping on multiple purchases for free.
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Please take this into consideration before placing your bid.
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