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19th century gold and pink topaz earrings.

Everyone here knows I love the subtlety and clean lines of Art Deco design. I also sometimes love things that are the opposite of that. For example:

19th century cannetille gold and pink topaz earrings. Via Diamonds in the Library.

These are fabulous. There’s nothing restrained, simple, or geometric about them. They’re a riot of enthusiastic embellishment. I think they’re great.

These babies are English, circa 1820. They’re made from cannetille gold, which is a term that I just learned. Cannetille is a metal openwork design similar to filigree; it was very popular in the 1820’s and 1830’s, when these earrings were made. You can see in these earrings the  tendrils, scrolls, coils and granulation typical of cannetille.

These cannetille gold earrings are embellished with small white chrysolites and a number of large pink topaz stones; two oval cut stones above an three oblong stones suspended below.

I’m a lady with lots of thick, dark, wavy hair – it’s hard to find a pair of earrings to stand up to my mane. I’m pretty sure these would do the trick, though.

These Georgian earrings are currently for sale at S.J. Phillps. All images and info are thanks to S.J. Phillips.

 

19th century gem and diamond cluster necklace.

This necklace is awesome. Like get-outta-town, shut-the-front-door awesome. You are forewarned.

19th century gem and diamond necklace with rubies, garnets, white sapphires, aquamarines, yellow zircons, pink topaz, peridot, tourmaline, and orange topaz.

This extraordinarily fabulous necklace was made in 1880. It looks a little like the jeweler did drugs while designing it, but I mean that in the best possible way. It’s exuberantly cheerful.

The necklace consists of  a series of cushion cut stones in openwork floral shaped double diamond borders, with smaller five petal flowerhead motifs in between. The smaller flowerheads each have a ruby center and diamonds on each petal. This chain suspends a pendant of similar design with one large garnet and a number of small diamonds.

Detail; 19th century gem and diamond necklace with rubies, garnets, white sapphires, aquamarines, yellow zircons, pink topaz, peridot, tourmaline, and orange topaz.

Gems in this necklace: diamonds, rubies, garnets, white sapphires, aquamarines, yellow zircons, pink topaz, peridot, tourmaline, and orange topaz.

Detail; 19th century gem and diamond necklace with rubies, garnets, white sapphires, aquamarines, yellow zircons, pink topaz, peridot, tourmaline, and orange topaz.

This necklace is currently listed on the S.J. Philips website. All images and info are thanks to S.J. Philips.

 19th century gem and diamond necklace with rubies, garnets, white sapphires, aquamarines, yellow zircons, pink topaz, peridot, tourmaline, and orange topaz.

French Belle Epoque necklace with seed pearls, diamonds, and pink topaz.

This French Belle Epoque necklace, circa 1910, is platinum with seed pearls, diamonds, and a two fancy-cut pink topazes. (Please pardon me if that’s not the correct plural of topaz.)

I think this necklace is lovely. It has that fabulous Belle Epoque charm of giving the impression of being simple while actually being extremely complex. The details are so well executed that it avoids appearing overly designed.

A beautiful antique French Belle Epoque necklace with seed pearls, diamonds, and pink topaz.

This lovely Belle Epoque necklace is currently for sale at Macklowe Gallery. A big thank-you to Macklowe for sharing their pretties with all of us who can’t afford to touch but love to look.

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