Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Mastery of Design: The Dame Joan Evans Pearl and Diamond Drop Earrings, 1795-1810



The Dame Joan Evans Diamond and Pearl Drop Earrings
French, 1795-1810
The Victoria & Albert Museum

This pair of drop earrings of gold cut an elegant silhouette.  They are set with pearls and rose-cut diamonds and take the form of two long loops, one pearl, the other diamond.   These “bands” are “tied” near the top with a bow.
When these earrings were made, between 1795 and 1810 (in France), women’s dress had simplified with the influence of costumes found in archeological discoveries and artifacts from classical Greece and Rome.
During this period, fine muslin fabrics draped the body, revealing, low-cut bodices were the fashion.  This new display of skin allowed a fleshy backdrop for the presentation of  elaborate stone and filigree necklaces.  Meanwhile, the hair was  often worn in a delicate chignon (bun), with curls arranged around the forehead and face—allowing women to wear jeweled combs or tiaras and elongated earrings with refined silhouettes.


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