Lot 439 , A rare pair of naturalistic gold, enamel and seed pearl earrings, circa 1850

A rare pair of naturalistic gold, enamel and seed pearl earrings, circa 1850, each finely modelled as a vine of convolvulus, the flowers applied with pink, yellow and white enamel and accented with seed pearls, mounted in gold, length 3.4cm each, hook fittings

Cf.: Charlotte Gere et al, The Art of the Jeweller, A Catalogue of the Hull Grundy Gift to the British Museum, p.35, no. 714, for a comparable pair of earrings modelled as violets. In the 'Language of Flowers', pink convolvulus means 'worth sustained by judicious and tender affection'
£200-300

Condition:
Chip to enamel on underside of one flower, not particularly obvious as facing down when worn, otherwise generally in good condition, backs of flowers with wear to enamel around joins with earrings. Some evidence of minor repairs with solder, again not particularly obvious. Arrangement of stems slightly asymmetrical, could be a deliberate design choice. Earring hooks a slightly different colour gold, but continuation of convolvulus vines onto them means they're likely original. Overall a rare survival in good, wearable condition despite intrinsic fragility.

Sold for £2,000