A pair of antique 19th century Italian grape earrings, crafted from high-karat gold and set with pearls.

Each earring is decorated with around 40 seed pearls, drilled and placed upon thick, gold wire strands. The pearls are well matched in terms of size, shape and colour. The bunch-of-grape shaped ear pendants are attached to hook fittings for pierced ears.

In the 19th century, grapes and vine leaves were a recurrent theme, drawing inspiration from the gold jewellery of the ancient world. In this period, nearly all Italian women wore gold earrings. Their shapes varied widely according to regional styles. This particular style of earring, with a dangling bunch of grapes, was typically made with seed pearls or Mediterranean coral. They were very popular in the Victorian era all across Europe, although the tight-knit formation of the pearls, and slightly crude gold work suggests an early 19th century Sicilian or Southern Italian origin. See the final listing photo for some 19th century portraits of women with pearl grape earrings.

The gold is unmarked but tests as 18K. The earrings weigh a total of 8.35 grams. Each earring measures about 3.5cm north to south including the hook fitting, with a width of 1cm at its widest. All the pearls are securely set and the earrings remain in good and wearable condition despite their significant age.

A golden age for jewellery design, boasting intricate designs inspired by nature and classical mythology. The style reflects the elegance and refinement of the 18th century with the use of diamonds, pastes and intricately worked Rococo settings.

Georgian jewellery is named after the four King Georges of England, an era which lasted from 1714 to 1837. Pieces of Georgian jewellery are handmade works of art, expertly crafted to be treasured for generations. They often used rose-cut and flat-cut stones with large facets that were often foiled to enhance their natural beauty. These pieces were reserved mainly for the aristocratic upper classes, with each piece individually crafted by a highly skilled hand.

DELIVERY

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For UK delivery, we send with Royal Mail Special Delivery, arriving by the next working day. For International orders over £1000 we use DHL Express International, and for orders under £1000 we use Royal Mail International Tracked and Signed. All items are sent fully insured.

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RETURNS

We understand that purchasing antique jewellery online can be a daunting task, which is why we offer an easy, no-hassle returns policy. If for any reason you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, simply get in touch within 14 days of receipt for a full refund, no questions asked. We want our customers to feel confident when buying from us, and our returns policy is just one way we ensure this.

Conditions: Buyers are responsible for return shipping costs. All items are to be returned in their original condition and packaging. Buyer damaged items and items bought on layaway are ineligible for returns. Items over £2500 can be returned for store credit only.

You can find more information about our returns policy here.