These elegant Victorian pique drop earrings are inlaid with gold and silver in a beautiful floral design of a bouquet of flowers. Suspended from a gold ball top a scalloped leaf shaped drop dangles creating these warm toned earring.
Pique a technique of inlaying precious metals into tortoiseshell, was brought to England by the Huguenots when they were expelled from France in the 17th Century. Pique, meaning "pierce", refers to the process of inlaying gold and silver into heated tortoiseshell to make beautiful floral and leaf patterns, as well as geometric designs. It reached its zenith during the reign of Queen Victoria. It is a process and art form that has been lost today so a matching pair of earrings from this time period is a rare find.
Each earring is suspended from a 14 karat gold lever back ear wire. These are a newer addition. The earrings measure 1 1/4” from the top of the ear wire to the bottom point of the leaf shape and 3/4” at the widest part. They are inlaid with 14 karat gold and silver floral design. There is no damage to the pique gold inlay. They are in excellent condition, and are a a stunning example of this technique. Total weight 4 grams.
Circa 1880
