Victorian Paste Earrings
Victorian paste earrings are brilliant glass jewels set in silver and gold, offering the dazzling light of high-period gems with genuine antique character.
Victorian Paste Earrings
Victorian paste earrings encompass a variety of drop, chandelier, and cluster designs produced during the nineteenth century and subsequent revival periods. The visitor searching for victorian paste earrings encounters drop configurations, tassel drops, and delicate screwback or hook fastenings.
Silver and gold combinations dominate the selection, frequently paired with glass paste stones that imitate diamonds, garnets, citrines, and topazes. Pieces range from straightforward floral clusters to elaborate Edwardian and Etruscan Revival creations.
Dating stretches from the nineteenth century into Edwardian, 1920, 1940, and associated revival styles, showing how lapidary skill persisted across decades. Set securely in metal, these earrings represent the accessible luxury of past eras.
What varies in quality
Quality rests upon the precision of the stone-cutting and the integrity of the metalwork, distinguishing simple production from meticulous masterwork. Finer examples display carefully foiled paste that mimics genuine gemstones with convincing depth and colour dispersion.
The sophistication of the setting, whether an Etruscan Revival wirework frame or a complex chandelier drop, dictates the tier of the piece. Preservation of the original screwback or hook mechanism also influences the standing of the jewellery.
Some past owners kept their paste sparkles so secure they invented screwbacks just to sleep in them.
Knoll & Pregizer
The Victorian Paste Earrings Glossary
- Paste
- Hand-cut lead glass used to imitate diamonds and coloured gemstones. It was faceted and polished by hand during the nineteenth century.
- Chandelier drop
- A multi-tiered earring design featuring cascading elements that move with the wearer. This form creates significant visual motion.
- Etruscan Revival
- A nineteenth-century design movement inspired by archaeological discoveries in Italy. It employs granulation and wirework on gold surfaces.
- Demi parure
- A matched set of jewellery containing a smaller selection of pieces, such as earrings and a brooch. They were designed to be worn together.
Victorian Paste Earrings: Frequently Asked Questions
Are these earrings made with real gold?
Many examples utilise solid gold, including nine-carat and fifteen-carat standards, frequently paired with silver settings to enhance the appearance of the stones.
Other items combine silver with gold-cased or gilt metals, reflecting the varied manufacturing practices of the period.
How do I wear screwback earrings?
Screwback fasteners are adjusted by turning a small threaded screw on the back of the finding to gently pinch the earlobe. They provide security for non-pierced ears without requiring spring tension.
Modern wearers can adjust them for a comfortable fit throughout the day.
What is foiled paste?
Foiled paste refers to glass stones that have a thin reflective sheet of metal placed behind them within the closed setting. This technique magnifies the brilliance and alters the hue of the glass.
It was a standard method used to emulate the fire of genuine gemstones.
Can I date these by their fastenings?
Fastenings offer helpful clues, as screwback mechanisms and simple hook wires appear across different decades of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Pierced hooks and dormeuse levers point towards specific periods of production.
Examining the metal alloy alongside the fastening style confirms the era.