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French Victorian 18K Gold Rose Cut Diamond Sapphire Dormeuse Earrings


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Directory: Estate Jewelry: Gold: Victorian: Pre 1900: Item # 1402161
Kensington House Antiques
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Maryland
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A lovely pair of French Victorian 18K gold earrings set with sapphires and rose cut diamonds. Each earring features a prong-set blue sapphire surrounded by a cluster of ten rose cut diamonds, bead-set in an engraved background. The backs are finished with a hand-pierced gallery. The sapphires and diamonds have particularly good color and clarity for the period. This style of earrings was popular in the 1850's when popular hairstyles that covered the ears rendered large earrings irrelevant. Smaller earrings, "dormeuses" ("sleepers") were worn to keep the piercings open while awaiting the inevitable return of grander styles. Stamped with French 18K marks.
  • Origin: France, ca. 1855.
  • Condition: very good, all original, a minor repair to one earwire.
  • Dimensions: 3/8" x 9/16" (from top of earwire).
  • Weight: 2.4 grams.
  • Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: sapphire, .38 carat; diamond, .10 carat.