Oh my America! I second Alec's "wow". Your antique cameo earrings though make me wonder if they were not originally made to commemorate, an important date or significant event? One can't help but admire the workmanship that went into the making of these beautiful antique earrings, that are so elegant & well proportioned yet resolutely handsome.
The renaissance style of the gold work that surrounds the cameo subject is evocative of the jewelry made by the Giuliano family, the best known is Carlo Giuliano (1831-95) who worked in Naples, Italy for Alessandro Castellani. The Giuliano family of jewelers were well known in London, especially for their jewelry that echoed antique and renaissance style. Their mark was C & A G; that of Carlo Giuliano was CG.
Best Wishes,
Yvonne Hammouda-Eyre
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"bloomed" gold by: A.Stromberg
Bloomed gold process was used on most Victorian jewelry, however to clean your earrings I will suggest to use "Tarn-X". It will remove tarnish, oxidized parts, and will make earrings look like new with original mat finish. You can buy "Tarn-X" almost in any super market. Dip earring in the "Tarn-X" bath for 15/20 minutes and then rinse with water. That should do the trick :-) . Alec Stromberg
Thanks so much for the information. I've actually done some more research myself and found out that the gold finish on these earrings is what is called "bloomed" gold. A process by which solid gold jewelry was dipped in an acid wash to change the color and surface of shiny gold to a more matte finish.
This process often brightened up the gold colored finish to make it look like a higher karat gold. This finish did not show up the wear and scratches like a shiny gold finish would. So that is why I was confused as they looked brilliant yellow gold in some places and were darker in others.
Turns out these just need a good cleaning. I thank you so much for your help : )
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WOW! by: Alec Stromberg
Letter V is a mystery that IS most likely impossible to solve. It could be the first letter of the carver's name, but it's hard to figure out the name from 150 years ago. Sorry. AS
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V carved on back of earrings by: KH
Thanks so much for the information and response to my question. But I am still wondering if anyone knows what the carved V is on the back? Just artist intial ? if so any ideas on who would sign with only one intial? is there a good place I could reference who might be the carver? I also think the backs must have been converted from wires don't you think? Not sure when screw backs were introduced, so any additional information would be very much appreciated : ) Thanks so much
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WOW! by: Alexander Stromberg
Forgot to mention that the backs were changed in 1940's or later. Someone did not have pierced ears and these earring were not the original backs. Also the tops have missing gems, probably pearls, like the one below. Still looks great!
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Wow! by: Alexander Stromberg
So rare, so beautiful...wonderful pair of earrings from the mid 1800's... most likely England. The stone called onyx, but it's originally was blueish chalcedony and the bluish part was dyed to a black color. "Black" Chalcedony (Agate) does not exist in nature, so it use to be dyed for many centuries using different methods.
There is no surprise that by the 1800s these methods were perfected. Congratulation. These are gorgeous!!! A.Stromberg Los Angeles, California
