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| The Dame Joan Evans Diamond and Pearl Drop Earrings French, 1795-1810 The Victoria & Albert Museum |
This pair of drop earrings of gold cut an elegant silhouette. They are set with pearls and rose-cut
diamonds and take the form of two long loops, one pearl, the other diamond. These “bands”
are “tied” near the top with a bow.
When these earrings were made, between 1795 and 1810 (in France), women’s
dress had simplified with the influence of costumes found in archeological
discoveries and artifacts from classical Greece and Rome.
During this period, fine
muslin fabrics draped the body, revealing, low-cut bodices were the
fashion. This new display of skin
allowed a fleshy backdrop for the presentation of elaborate stone and filigree necklaces. Meanwhile, the hair was often worn in a delicate chignon (bun), with
curls arranged around the forehead and face—allowing women to wear jeweled combs
or tiaras and elongated earrings with refined silhouettes.
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