Coral Cameo Day Night Etruscan Earrings

The classic style of Victorian Etruscan revival work drew its inspiration from the archeological discoveries at Herculaneum and Pompeii and was very much in vogue during the latter part of the 19th century. It was during this time span that jewelry was being created using many types of materials (other than that exclusive class of fine gems) which made it more affordable to those in the up and coming middle class.

Coral has been very finely hand-carved into a set of cameos mounted into 18k gold Etruscan revival wire work. Corded or twisted gold wire work has been painstakingly applied to oval frames enclosing classical head and shoulder cameos in high relief. Please note that each figure may be placed inward to frame the face or outward. The skill level needed to hand craft these cameos far exceed the norm. Unlike modern day machined cameos, each cameo in this set is of a different figure. Typically referred to as day night earrings, each of the pair consists of a small and a larger medallion cameo ingeniously attached by hook and loop. The components may be worn together or just the surmount using the back to front ear wires.

Measures 2 inches or 5.1 cm including the wire. The surmount is 1 inch or 2.5 cm long with wire and 11/16 of an inch (1.5 cm) without. The bottom drop is 1-3/16 inches long including top loop by ¾ of an inch wide (3 cm long by 2 cm wide). In very good condition; one tiny loss to side of one cameo that can only be viewed upon very close inspection or with magnification and is not visible when worn. Dates to circa 1850-1860.