GEORGIAN JEWELRY Antique Natural Seed Pearl Brooch & Earrings Wedding Set 1800’s

Description

Antique Georgian Natural Seed Pearl Jewelry. This is an unbelievable work of art. This beautiful set is classic Georgian era design: layers of graduating, tiny natural seed pearls drilled and sewn onto a mother of pearl frame in a millefiori or "million flower" motif. These pearls measure as small as 0.8mm: meticulous care with exacting skill was required to drill a hole through pearls smaller than one millimeter!!! Incredible feat to be repeated 1,730 times for this set alone. Please look closely at #8 photo of the brooch magnified. The amount of seed pearls i counted in this whole set is at least 1,730 intricately woven into design of a single seed pearl with 10 extra tiny seed pearls surrounding it. This is extremely special. Shipped with UPS. Shipping fees include handling & full insurance.
Measurements:
Brooch 2 1/4”H x 1 5/16”W , Earrings 1 11/16”H x 15/16”W
Accompanied by its original blue velvet case this antique Georgian natural seed pearls brooch and earrings wedding set is a sight to behold, Strung with horse hair onto mother of pearl, despite its age, this piece is in amazing condition. I kept the note inside which reads ‘wore this pin when married. They were Auntie ?. 11/4/1922’ These special wedding sets were obviously passed down from one generation to another. This particular set appears to be rarely worn, more than likely saved for marriage. This certainly is a RARE TREASURE.
DON’T SETTLE for the same thing everyone else has when the world is filled with unforgettably gorgeous treasures waiting to be found. All it takes is the possibility of it being discovered, which is now. Why hesitate? Bid now!
Some additional info from an article titled "History of Jewelry: Seed Pearl" by Staryj Belevoj Shkaf
In Europe, the use of "seed pearls" jewelry first became popular in the late Georgian period, from the last quarter of the 18th century to the first quarter of the 19th century. Then only really wealthy families could buy these wonderful things. The real boom, however, culminated at the beginning of the Victorian era, between 1837 and 1860 — during the period when rapid industrialization of Europe created the middle class, which could afford such jewelry. It was a time when symbolism reigned and symbolic meanings were attached to different types of precious stones and jewelry motifs used in personal jewelry. Jewelry decorated with seed pearls was associated with innocence and purity and considered a perfect gift for young girls as their first official piece of jewelry, or for a bride on her wedding day.
In 1908, in England, a book was published describing an incredibly complex method of making these wonderful pieces of antique jewelry. The description below is taken from it.
‘The basis for jewelry is a thin plate of mother-of-pearl. One of the most popular and attractive patterns is the "English scroll". To make brooches, for example, the design is first made by drawing on paper or cardboard; then a plate is cut of mother of pearl using the pattern, the artisan makes the holes for pearls. Then appropriate pearls are selected and put on a pearlescent base on special hair strands. All the work that remains for a jeweler is adding a clasp or earring fixtures’.
All pearls used for jewelry were purchased on threads and in clusters in India and China. The best were those known as "Chinese seeds of pearl", they were drilled and strung in bundles weighing three ounces. The hole was so small that a silk thread of the required strength was too thick and could not pass through the pearl, and only a horsehair could be used for such pearls. The Indian Madras pearls, however, had larger holes and could be strung on silk.
The best white horse hair was used for stringing these "seed pearls" because of the holes drilled in them, as a rule, were too small to permit the use of silk. It was very important that the hair for stringing was cut from a live horse, as otherwise the hairs were too fragile. These hairs were packed in bundles of 8 to 14 inches in length, and often only one ounce from the pound was chosen to use — the rest didn't suit, as the quality had to be perfect!'
*The original article is on a website called "Livemaster". Google "Livemaster and History of Jewelry: Seed Pearl by Staryj Belevoj Shkaf" to see all of the incredible photos that accompany the article.
Shipped with UPS. Shipping fees include handling & full insurance.
Global Shipping Program: Tip
If your item's being sent using the Global Shipping Program, eBay will inform the buyer about import charges and these will be included in the order total at checkout. (This program can only be used on items that cost less than 00.00)
SHIPPING EXCLUSIONS:
Bahamas, Bermuda, Brunei, Darussalam, Cayman Islands, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Djibouti, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Polynesia, Guyana, Honduras, India, Iran, Jamaica, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritania, Mauritius, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, New Caledonia, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Saint Kitts-Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Wallis and Futuna, Western Sahara, Zimbabwe