Seed Pearls | Natural Pearls or Cultured? by: Anonymous
Hi Farah thank you for writing in. Your seed pearl jewelry sounds exquisite and fascinating I can understand fully why it is one of your favorite pieces.
Seed Pearl Jewelry was popular in the 18th and all throughout the 19th century and even well into the second decade of the 20th century! Many people believe Seed pearl Jewelry was only produced in the 18th century and part of the 19th century, which is not correct.
From your description, the open-work of the design and the fact that the piece is two dimensional coincided with Victorian fashions in the first half of the 19th century. Towards the second half of the 1800s as Victorian fashions became heavier and fuller jewelry responded with fuller jewelry and less space between the pearls.
Without the benefit of a photo, and based on your description, I would date your Seed Pearl necklace ca. 1820s.
And to answer you question about whether the seed pearls are natural pearls or not, I would say these little pearls are Natural Pearls although seed pearl jewelry can contain either Cultured Pearls or Natural Pearls.
best wishes,
Yvonne Hammouda-Eyre Stay up to date with all the latest Antique, Premier and Pearl Jewelry News... Subscribe to my newsletter....
