Earring
about 1925 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Black and white jewellery was considered chic in the 1920s and 1930s. It exploited the contrast of glossy black onyx and diamonds. In 1926 the French magazine Fémina explained to its readers: ‘Its sombre sheen makes a paved diamond ground shine out more splendidly, more brightly’. Black onyx is rare in nature but a substitute can be created by soaking paler chalcedony in a boiling sugar solution and then heating it in sulphuric acid.
Long earrings came back into fashion in the 1920s, along with fashionable boyish hairstyles, such as the Eton Crop.
Long earrings came back into fashion in the 1920s, along with fashionable boyish hairstyles, such as the Eton Crop.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | White gold set with brilliant-cut diamonds and cabochon stained chalcedony |
| Brief description | Earrings of white gold set with brilliant-cut diamonds and cabochon stained chalcedony, by Janesich, made in Paris, about 1925. |
| Physical description | Pair of earrings with brilliant-cut diamonds set in white gold, each long drop with black-stained chalcedony cut in cabochon. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Summary | Black and white jewellery was considered chic in the 1920s and 1930s. It exploited the contrast of glossy black onyx and diamonds. In 1926 the French magazine Fémina explained to its readers: ‘Its sombre sheen makes a paved diamond ground shine out more splendidly, more brightly’. Black onyx is rare in nature but a substitute can be created by soaking paler chalcedony in a boiling sugar solution and then heating it in sulphuric acid. Long earrings came back into fashion in the 1920s, along with fashionable boyish hairstyles, such as the Eton Crop. |
| Bibliographic reference | 'Jewels and Jewellery' Clare Phillips, V&A Publications, 2000
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.24&A-1982 |
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| Record created | January 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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