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To present these earrings I would also show that it is quite possible, as in this case, to make from “normal” antique consumer goods, as these two buttons, to transfer into these beautiful enamelled cut steel heart earrings.
These captivating earrings face is made with a pierced design in a riot of showy color. Festoons of brilliant, hand painted roses represent the best of this Edwardian rococo style, swagging between the pierced openings and accenting a trefoil of pierced ivy leaves. Bright turquoise blue enamel surrounds the earrings edges with the roses being painted on snowy white backgrounds. I’m such fan of enamel...seemingly so simple yet devilishly difficult. The artist first embosses the disk to create the basic design...this design is also on the back of the earring, making them as lovely as the front. They then sift superfine granules of colored glass into each tiny area, firing in between colors, then make a paint using the glass to create the soft color washes, going to the kiln yet again...pieces like these may have been fired as many as 8 or 9 times. I wonder if it occurred to them that we'd still be admiring and collecting there work 100 years later? The last little touch here is a twinkly cut steel "gem"...something that gives the earrings that much more eye catching grace. The earring face is made in gilded brass, the vintage style ear wires are solid 14k yellow gold.
These earrings started life circa 1900 as very showy, feminine pair of ladies buttons. Can you imagine a time when we wore such beautiful, dressy clothes? Over time even the finest dress would fade and stain...the fabric would be cut up for crazy quilts or children's clothes, but the cufflinks, buttons and fancy extras would be saved. While they may have fallen out of fashion, they were still a keepsake of the dress you wore the day you were engaged or married...memories captured in tiny works of art. I wear these marvelous buttons as a fabulous accent jewel to a most special garment.