From
the collection of Lady Cory, we have this pair of earrings. Open-set in silver backed in gold, we see
brilliant-cut diamonds in a rosette design.
While the backs have been altered, the jewels themselves are unchanged
from the time they were created, circa 1860.
During this period, distinctions of rank, age,
occasion and dress determined what jewelry could be worn and when. Etiquette
manuals dictated the appropriateness of fashion. For instance, one popular manual stated that
diamonds, pearls and emeralds were for full evening wear only and that during
the daytime, women were expected to wear less elaborate jewelry. So, naturally, these earrings would have been
reserved for formal evening wear.
No comments:
Post a Comment