Portuguese flowerhead earrings

Portuguese double-layer rock crystal flowerhead earrings, circa 1780. The earrings are silver and close-set with natural rock crystal over a mixture of topaz tinted foil and cerise tinted foil in closed back settings. Portuguese jewellers often used artistic combinations of tints and tones when working with gems of one colour. By setting the gems over foils of varying shades, the monochrome effect was given depth and variety. The gold ear wires are later. The earrings measure one inch by one inch and are immaculate.

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