 |
|
Home |
|
Antique Jeweled Suffragette Earrings World War I Era browse these categories for related items... All Items: Antiques: Decorative Art: Jewelry: Continental: Pre 1920: item # 814244 GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear 56 Calle Monte Aplanado, NW Albuquerque, NM 87120 Phone: 505.205.1404 Guest Book $135 (Free U.S. Priority Shipping & Gift-Wrap if Desired) |
|
|
These wonderful antique earrings make a powerful feminist statement, while also being extremely elegant. We date the pair to Edwardian times, give or take a few years. A hint of Victorian Art Nouveau is evident in their curvaceous form, but they also have the refined delicacy we associate with Edwardian and transitional styles. As is appropriate for the period, size is restrained (about 3/4" round) and the settings are intricate and highly dimensional. Screw fasteners are present -- popular because piercing was then considered rather barbaric by modern women.
Each earring features a square-cut cabochon resembling emerald or imperial jade, held by tall talon-like prongs, plus two faux pearls and two faceted amethyst pastes. All stones appear original and are in lovely condition, as is the richly textured gilt metalwork. Suffragette jewels often survive in great shape, having been worn only occasionally (at meetings and when marching for the vote). To the Suffragettes' efforts through many decades in the U.K. and U.S., we modern women owe that right, which was finally extended to all American women in 1920 and to all in Great Britain in 1928. Most likely the earrings were made for export in Bohemia, which for centuries produced the finest simulated gems, as well as ornate and rather fanciful mounts that were widely prized. The area became Czechoslovakia after World War I, but was previously part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. As you know if you collect Suffragette jewelry, the unusual combination of green, purple and white had deep meaning for early feminists. For them, green represented hope, purple signified dignity and white stood for purity. The language we associate with "regard" jewelry applied, too: The "G" of green, "W" of white and "V" of violet comprised an abbreviation for Give Women (the) Vote. All this seems cryptic now, but was clearly understood by everyone in an era when messages were also communicated by which flowers you sent, how you held your fan and which corner of a calling card you folded down, if any. The wealthiest suffragettes mixed amethysts and pearls or diamonds with green stones such as emeralds or peridots, but pretend gems were naturally favored by the majority. Tucked away and forgotten for decades, Suffragette jewelry began rapidly gaining value when the movie "Iron Jawed Angels" appeared in 2004, revealing what the gals went through (including hunger strikes and beatings). Wearing Suffragette jewels is a great way to show your pride and appreciation and, now that the genre has been rediscovered, they're getting much harder to find. We try our best to maintain a good selection, but demand keeps growing. If these strike your fancy, you'd better not delay. There's no charge for insured U.S. shipping and gift wrap is always free when desired. Please e-mail erinharris@comcast.net to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking! |
|
|