These seashells, also known as rainbow kelp shells, belong to snails found in the tidal waters of South and Western Australia and the shores of Tasmania. Aboriginal women have been collecting the shells and fashioning necklaces for over 2500 years; examples are in the permanent collections of the Australian Museum and British Museum. But these earrings aren't ancient, and the only thing about them that's Austrailan/Tasmanian may be the shells themselves. Either they were made in the Victorian style by local craftsmen for export to England in the 1880s, or the shells were brought back as a souvenir to the UK and the mountings were built to accommodate the shells. In the 19th century, exotic and faraway materials were in super-high demand, and these iridescent earrings would have been a wild novelty.
thedetails
- Materials
10k gold (tests), Tasmanian maireener shells
- Age
c. 1880
- Condition
Very good
- Size
1 3/8" length measured from the top of the ear wire
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Aboutthe
VictorianEra
1837 — 1901
The Victorians were avid consumers and novelty-seekers, especially when it came to fashion, and numerous fads came and went throughout the 19th century. In jewelry, whatever fashion choices Queen V. made reverberated throughout the kingdom. The Romantic period reflected the queen’s legendary love for her husband, Albert.
Jewelry from this period featured joyful designs like flowers, hearts, and birds, all which often had symbolic meaning. The queen’s betrothal ring was made in the shape of a snake, which stood for love, fidelity, and eternity. The exuberant tone shifted after Prince Albert passed away in 1861, marking the beginning of the Grand Period. Black jewelry became de rigeur as the Queen and her subjects entered “mourning,” which at the time represented not just an emotional state, as we conceive of it today, but a specific manner of conduct and dress. She wore the color black for the remainder of her life, and we see lots of black onyx, enamel, jet, and gutta percha in the jewelry from this time. Finally, during the late Victorian period, which transitioned along with a rapidly changing world into the “Aesthetic Movement”, there was a return to organic and whimsical motifs: serpents, crescent moons, animals, and Japonaisserie designed for the more liberated “Gibson Girl”. During the second half of the 19th century, America entered the global jewelry market, with Tiffany and Co. leading the way. Lapidaries continued to perfect their techniques, and the old European cut emerged toward the end of the Victorian period. The discovery of rich diamond mines in South Africa made the colorless stones more accessible than ever before.
please note:Terms of Sale
Antiques can be returned unworn and in original condition within 10 days of delivery for an exchange or refund minus the cost of shipping. Once a piece has been altered, including ring re-sizing, it is FINAL SALE.