Antique Art Nouveau Cut Steel Earrings 14k $1NR

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We'd like to thank all of the folks who've been so generous with their compliments and positive feedback . We work hard to be worthy of our 100% rating and always try to provide 5 star service...so we hold the lightening fast priority shipping to actual cost with no handling fees and are pleased to offer free U.S. shipping of these earrings if they end over $100 . The full auction will list shortly.... This auction is for a striking pair of late Victorian era cut steel earrings The earrings have a fabulous design of pierced water lily or lotus leaves which bloom and stretch...look close and you can see each leaf has been scultped with with it's tiny leaf giving veins. Sparkling like a drop of morning dew is a small cut steel "gem", set at the heart of the leaves. It's a shame that they ever stopped using cut steels; they offer asuch a wonderful glimmer to the earrings. The lily and lotus flowers have a long tradition of meaning in the 'language of flowers'. For ancient Asian and Oriental cultures, because they take root in cold, dark mud and stretch their vines up through purifying water, blooming into the warm, sun lit air, they are a meaningful representation of enlightenment to their religions. They are also always the symbol of purity and the feminine; life, death and rebirth. The Art Nouveau period took strongly from the traditional Asian aesthetic movement and gave it the feminine, sexy high art form we know today. Our earrings started life as clothing buttons made circa 1895....yes, antique buttons; quite a lot of style and symbolism for something as humble as a dress button! What a lot we have lost in the last 115 years, when our "fine" jewelry is just gold and diamonds bright with dazzling glitter, but no artistry . We've pictured a couple of Victorian era gals, each wearing her fancy buttons on gowns that is probably very similar to the one that our buttons once decorated. So, the earring "face" is gilded brass and bronze with the steel stud center and the vintage style ear wires are new, solid 14k yellow gold. The earrings measure 22mm in diameter and hang 1 and 1/2 inches long in the ear. They weigh 10.8 total grams or 5.4 grams each and for reference, a single US quarter measures a larger 24.2mm and a heavier 5.8 grams. The earrings are in excellent, ready to wear condition. We are professional jewelers with an eye tuned to see beauty...and we see it every where, even in a ornament as humble as an antique clothing button! We're tired of our fine jewelry clients asking for something "unique" and picking the same thing that everyone else has...apparently, a lot of YOU feel the same way because over the last four and a half years we have successfully made and auctioned so many, many pairs of fabulous earrings. Every pair of our earrings are signed with a "A" in a diamond shape...we stand behind our work and the "Ace of Diamond" trademark is the proof. After opening the thread loops to act as "catchers" we attach solid 14k gold ear wires using our laser welder. The welder literally uses a laser beam to perfectly fuse the metals together; no sloppy solders or ruinous torch flame. We always use solid 14k so you have "good" gold for your ears...we don't want less, why would you? Some gals have been nervous about wearing the shepherd hook wires but are always relieved the find that the catchers make them very secure. No more fumbling with (and losing!) little ear nuts...that and the wires give the earrings a saucy, eye catching swing. We can't help wonder what type of dress these buttons decorated...did they stroll the boardwalk under a fancy parasol and a feathered hat? The finest gowns will soil and fade but someone treasured their beautiful dress enough to save these buttons as a keepsake. For this we are so very grateful because they make a truly captivating pair of earrings. If these are YOUR earrings, don't hesitate and bid now! For our international bidders: We get such ... read more

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