Victorian piqué posé earrings

A large pair of Victorian pendoloque earrings made from tortoiseshell, circa 1870. Piqué is the name for tortoiseshell inlaid with silver and gold. This decorative technique was used for small luxury items such as snuff boxes and jewellery. The tortoiseshell usually came from the Hawksbill turtle. On these earrings the work is piqué posé, where a  pattern was engraved into the surface and filled with threads of gold and silver. The articulated earrings are 2 and 1/4 inches in length and 3/4 of an inch wide at their widest point. The ear wires are 9 carat gold. Light on the ear and immaculate.

sold
Item ref : ST6