Belle Époque diamond ear pendants by Cartier, circa 1910

This charming pair of diamond pendant earrings of the early years of the 20th century caught our eye as they are such good examples of jewels transitional from the Garland style of the Belle Époque to the Art Deco period.

The old cut of the diamonds and the fine millegrain setting, along with the elongated form of the drops, are very much in line with dress fashion of the time which accentuated the length of the neck and freed up the ears for elaborate ornamentation.

Left: Giovanni Boldini (1842-1931), Portrait of Madame E L Doyen, oil on canvas, 1910 | Right: Lily Elysie (1886-1962), English actress and singer of the Edwardian era, photographed circa 1910

For earrings of this period and of similar design see:
D. Mascetti, A. Triossi, Earrings from Antiquity to the Present, (Thames & Hudson, London, 1990), page 157
D. Bennett, D. Mascetti, Understanding Jewellery, (Antique Collectors Club, Woodbridge, 2003), page 269, plate 441

 

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Further details:
A pair of ear pendants, each composed of four graduated circles of diamonds, centering larger diamonds, suspended from a large round diamond set in a square; mounted in platinum

188 old, single and rose-cut diamonds, total weighing approximately 10 carats

Signed Cartier

Each ear pendant: 2 1/4 x 5/8 inches / 5.7 x 1.6 cm

 

For further information on the Belle Époque diamond ear pendants:
info@understanding-jewellery.com