Antique Vintage Art Nouveau Sterling Silver Chinese Carved Salmon Coral Earrings

  

We have similar Nouveau and Coral items, which would pair nicely with this piece, for sale this week. Age Circa : Art Nouveau C. Gram Weight : 7.3 Grams.

Main Stone Measurements/Color : 18.87 mm long, 18.35 mm wide, Vibrant orange hue. 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 and Polished Coral. Item Measurements : The earrings measure 0.75" in length and 0.72" wide. 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 : These earrings were handmade during the Art Nouveau era. 925 sterling silver, the earrings feature salmon coral which was carved into the likeness of a cornucopia.

The flawless carving of the coral is a beautiful example of the expertise of Chinese stone cutters, who were revered for their meticulous and detailed work with a variety of stones. Since the Victorian era, wealthy Europeans had been custom ordering jewelry from China as Chinese jewelers were considered some of the best in the world.

The process of ordering, making and receiving Chinese export jewelry could take months at a time, so pieces like these earrings were very expensive and highly desirable. The focal point of each earring is the salmon coral, which is a vibrant orange in hue and was carved in high relief to look like a cluster of grapes and leaves, similar in shape to cornucopias. These stones would have been carved entirely by hand and the sterling silver prong setting would have been custom made to fit the carved coral. The earrings are completed with screw-on backings, making them suitable for wear in both pierced and non-pierced ears.

An exquisite example of Chinese export jewelry from the Art Nouveau era, these earrings would make a valuable addition to any antique jewelry collection. Don't miss your chance to preserve this piece of cultural history. This listing is for the item only.

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. Chinese export jewelry became popular during the late Victorian period and persisted until the 1960s.

During this period, Chinese craftsmen were considered by far the best in the world. The rich and wealthy would custom-order a piece through their local jeweler, who would send the design off to China to be made and sent back to Europe. This lengthy process was very expensive, making Chinese export pieces highly desirable, then and now.

Chinese stone cutters were considered some of the finest artisans in the world. They would spend years learning to hand-carve many different types of stones and excelled in creating finely detailed pieces other artisans couldnt even hope to compare to. Their skill was so refined that they could even carve delicate stones like coral and jade. Chinese stone cutters were so talented that Victorian era European socialites would commission pieces from them, preferring the hefty price tag that came with such high-quality work to the ready availability of Western stonework.

Salmon coral is harvested almost exclusively in the Mediterranean off the coasts of Italy, France, Spain, Algeria, and Tunisia. Salmon coral has widely been valued as the rarest and most beautiful of all coral types. During the Victorian era, only the richest of the rich could afford to have this form of coral harvested and imported into Europe and North America. The item "Antique Vintage Art Nouveau Sterling Silver Chinese Carved Salmon Coral Earrings" is in sale since Sunday, December 23, 2018.

This item is in the category "Jewelry & Watches\Vintage & Antique Jewelry\Fine\Art Nouveau/Art Deco 1895-1935\Earrings". The seller is "abeautifultimeco" and is located in Fort Collins, Colorado. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Style: Cluster
• Metal: Sterling Silver
• Metal Purity: .

  925

• Modified Item: No
• Country/Region of Manufacture: China
• Main Stone: Coral
• Ethnic Origin: Chinese