Victorian Limoges Enamel Forget-Me-Not Earrings, Gilt & 14k Ear Wires, $1NR

This auction is for a striking pair of late Victorian painted champleve enamel earrings.

The diamond shaped earring face has fabulous, feminine design featuring a fancy edge of swags highlighting a deep navy blue glass enamel hand painted in a Limoges "emaux peints" style panel with a sweet pink and white forget-me-not flower and it's green sprigged leaves. The Victorians were mad for flowers and their gardens to the point where they had assigned a symbolism for each every plant and flower. This unspoken language allowed a gentleman and lady to communicate their thoughts and desires during a time when even PIANOS wore skirts and scarves to cover their legs! A forget-me-not flower  represents "memories" and "my thoughts are with you". We so love enamel: a craft easy on paper but so devilishly difficult in the work shop. The enameler sifts the tiny grains of powered glass into the center square compartment and fires one thin layer after another...until each space is full and level. The enameler then mixed some of this glass into water and hand painted our colorful flower and leaves. The brass earring face has all of it's original golden gilding intact; the vintage style ear wires are new, solid 14k yellow gold.

These earrings started life circa 1895's as a pair of very fine ladies clothes buttons. It's a surprise that they aren't marked by a manufacturer, they are typical of the buttons made in France at this period.  They would have been a finishing jewel to best dress and we've pictured a gal wearing similar buttons on her best dress and another lovely gal wearing a similar pair of round, wire topped earrings. 

The earring faces measure 20.4mm wide by 20.8mm tall and hang 1 and 1/4th inches long in the ear overall. They weigh 6.0 total grams or a light 3.0 grams each. For reference, a single US nickle measures a slightly larger 21.2mm in diameter and weighs a heavier 5.0 grams. The enamels are in very good antique condition.

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. 

We are professional jewelers with a eye tuned to see beauty...and we see it every where, even in ornaments as humble as cufflinks and antique clothing buttons! Long time ebayers know us from the many, many pair of earrings we list and sell here; those that are upcycled and made from old cufflinks and Victorian buttons. Over the last twelve plus 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're very proud to stand behind our work and the "Ace of Diamond" trademark is the proof. 

We can't help wonder what type of dress these buttons decorated: did they stroll the boardwalk under a lacy 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 outrageous, glorious pair of earrings. If these are YOUR earrings, don't hesitate to bid now!