Earring
1850-1900 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
In the 19th century filigree was made in many places in Europe. It was considered typical of traditional jewellery, and was a very popular souvenir for British tourists. These earrings were described as French when they were given to the V&A in 1951. They may have been made in France, but it is more likely that they come from Piedmont, just across the border in Italy, where this type of net background was a speciality of Vercelli.
They would originally have had a hinged wire across the top of the crescent, but this has been bent down and soldered in place, and a new gold wire added in the centre, to make them more convenient to wear.
They would originally have had a hinged wire across the top of the crescent, but this has been bent down and soldered in place, and a new gold wire added in the centre, to make them more convenient to wear.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Silver-gilt filigree with gold earring wire |
| Brief description | Pair of silver-gilt filigree earrings with additional gold wire, Piedmont (Italy), 1850-1900. |
| Physical description | Pair of silver-gilt filigree crescent earrings. Each consists of a flat crescent of netting, decorated with applied coil-rings, with a fringe of strips of wrapped wire hanging from the lower edge. The original hinged wire has been bent down and soldered in place, and a new curved gold wire added to its centre. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Cory Bequest |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | In the 19th century filigree was made in many places in Europe. It was considered typical of traditional jewellery, and was a very popular souvenir for British tourists. These earrings were described as French when they were given to the V&A in 1951. They may have been made in France, but it is more likely that they come from Piedmont, just across the border in Italy, where this type of net background was a speciality of Vercelli. They would originally have had a hinged wire across the top of the crescent, but this has been bent down and soldered in place, and a new gold wire added in the centre, to make them more convenient to wear. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.151&A-1951 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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