Antique Vintage Art Deco Base Metal Pietra Dura Micro Mosaic Onyx Earrings 7.6g

Description

We have similar Art Deco and Mosaic items, which would pair nicely with this piece, for sale this week. To view in separate listings, please visit our store and search "Deco" or "Mosaic" under our Buy-It-Now items.
Listing Description by: Dayna M.
The Piece
Age Circa
:
Art Deco C. 1920 - 1940
Markings
: Unmarked, tested, and guaranteed
Country of Origin
: Unknown
Brand
: Unknown
Gram Weight
: 7.6 grams
Metal Type
:
Base metal
Material
: --
Main Stone
: Onyx
Main Stone Measurements/Color
:
Length:
15.77 mm
Width:
10.96 mm
Color:
opaque red, blue, green, orange, yellow, black and white hues
Accent Stone
: --
Accent Stone Measurements/Color
: --
Stone Treatment:
The stone(s) appear to be untreated, but we are not certified gemologists. Stone(s) have been tested and guaranteed using a professional Presidium Duo refractive, heat, and hardness tester.
Stone Cuts
: Carved and polished inlaid micro mosaic
Item Measurements
:
Length:
0.84"
Width:
0.65"
Earring Style
: Cluster
Earring Backing Style
: Clip-on backings. Your jeweler can easily convert these to the preferred backing style you desire.
For Pierced or Non-Pierced Ears
: Both
Notable Features
:
Handmade during the Art Deco era
These earrings are composed of base metal.
The earrings have beautiful rope designs bordering the mosaic floral design.
The face of each earring features a pietra dura micro mosaic made out of multi-colored onyx stones arranged into floral motifs.
The inclusion of the micro mosaic in this piece suggests that they were m
ade in the Grand Tour revival style of colorful stones and complex pieces
Clip-on backings complete the earrings, making them suitable for pierced ears.
Damage
: Age appropriate wear. The tarnish on this price can be removed with a polishing cloth if so desired.
*This listing is for the item only. All display boxes and/or photography props do not come with your purchase.*
The History
The Art Deco era is famous for being the "Gatsby" or "Roaring Twenties" era. A lot of gorgeous and timeless designs in jewelry came out of this period. Jewelry from this period was most often crafted between 1920 and 1940. Art Deco jewelry sometimes featured white gold or platinum, geometric designs, European cut diamonds, filigree, and calibre cut stones that are specially cut to fit the design of the piece. During the Art Deco period jewelers often made jewelry upon custom order, this would usually take weeks to months to completely craft by hand.
The Grand Tour was a popular vacation during the Georgian and Victorian eras. This vacation was generally between two and four years long, and it allowed wealthy people the opportunity to study different cultures, architecture, and art. During this vacation, travelers would pick up pieces of jewelry, which allowed the introduction of techniques and styles such as cameos, mosaics, and pietra dura to be introduced into popular jewelry styles.
Pietra dura, Italian for “hard stone”, is a mosaic inlay technique which uses polished and cut stones to create an image, which is often highly detailed. The highest quality pietra dura pieces resemble paintings. This method first appeared in Rome during the 16th century and fine-tuned during the Renaissance period by the famous Medici family. The stones are first assembled, loose, and then meticulously glued one-by-one to a surface to create an image. Artists often used colored stones, marble, semi-precious and precious stones, and even petrified wood.
Onyx is a chalcedony quartz gemstone that is found all over the world. It usually has a fine texture and black color; however, some onyx also displays colored bands or ribbons against a black or brown background. Red onyx is quite rare and desirable and is also known as sardonyx. Onyx that has a deep green shade is known as Brazilian green onyx and is very rare. It became a popular stone for sculpture and jewelry in the 1920s and 1930s. The name comes from the Greek word onyx which means nail of a finger or claw. The word onyx comes from the Greek word "ὄνυξ" which can be translated as "nail of a finger or claw." In Greco-Roman myth, the goddess of beauty, Aphrodite, lay sleeping when Eros cut her fingernails and left the clippings scattered on the ground. Because no part of a heavenly body can die, the gods turned them into stone which later became known as onyx.
Domestic US:
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: .00 fully insured, estimated 3-5 business days
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: .00 fully insured, estimated 2-3 business days
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: .00 fully insured, overnight delivery
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