The Grand Tour was an essential undertaking for any English man of means beginning in the 1700s, but it wasn't until the early 1800s with the invention of steam-powered transportation that it became a pursuit open to anyone, including women. The tour typically began in Dover, England and culminated in Italy. Throughout the tour one was supposed to acquire knowledge of language, politics, sport and art and become a generally more well-rounded person of privilege. And on the way, they shopped for souvenirs, often in jewelry form. These outstanding Georgian era hoop earrings feature elaborate carved coral beads strung together and affixed to back to front gold ear wires complete with wig hooks. The style and material of these earrings are clues that tell us that, most likely, these earrings were a souvenir purchased on someone's Italian leg of the Grand Tour in the early 1800s.