Antique Gold Earrings Gold Wire Granulation Dangle Chains Enamel India (6442)

Antique earrings or ear pendants. 22k yellow gold with some enamel. Made in India anywhere between 1850 and about 80-90 years ago. 

Measurements: 2 inches (5cm) long from top to bottom of gold chain drops. 9.14 grams. 

Description : Upper part of the earrings consist of a central ring of red enamel surrounded by very fine filigree and granulation in an openwork or cutwork disc. Gently convex with the central red enamel area raised well above the surface of gold. The original loops at the bottom are connected to a series of dangling gold chains of varying lengths. It is likely that the earrings originally suspended beads or some other form of accessory and that the chains are later additions (done later in the 1900's). They are very elegant and add a gentle sense of movement and grace to the earrings. Posts are clearly later additions (circa 1930's?), made to allow more modern women to wear the earrings. They have screw on butterflies - see pictures that hold the earrings very securely. 

Marks: little plaques on the backs of the earrings with engraved 22c. We do not know whether these are original or later. 

 

Condition: Good with negligible wear commensurate with age. Please see enlarged pictures and don't hesitate to ask questions which we will do our best to answer.

 

In her book on Indian earrings, page 93, Waltraud Ganguly refers to earrings called KAP or 'flowers'," which are gold plates of various sizes with filigree decoration and a central red stone. They are fastened to the lobe by a narrow plug with screw. " In the book on Indian Jewelry in the Victoria and Albert Museum (page 76), Nick Barnard has a picture of a pair of earrings with surmounts worked like these, but with gold globes in the center and jhumka (bells) instead of chains suspended from the disks. They are in the Victoria and Albert Museum, transferred from the India Museum and date to 1853.