Victorian Aventurine Anchor Earrings

Antique Victorian earrings circa 1880, featuring an oval aventurine glass face inlaid with a white anchor. The contrast of sparkling copper and the slightly translucent color of the inset.

The yellow gold-filled bezels are given added texture by twisted wire-work frames, these may have originally been collar buttons but they came to us in their present form with gold earwires.

DETAILS: Measuring approximately 3/4" north to south, not including the curve of the ear-wire which gives the earring a 1" drop, and 9/16" east to west.

CONDITION: In excellent condition with a light patina and some slight oxidization of the metal, seen mostly on the back. 

INFO: Since early Christian metaphor, anchors have been used to represent hope and steadfast faith; whether it's the hope of redemption, love, peace or better times to come is dependent on the context of the presentation. The color may give us a clue, as white was used to symbolize purity, nobility and virtue as well as marriage and the faithfulness of devoted love.

Goldstone, also known as aventurine glass or monkstone, is a man-made material invented by the Motti family in Venice in the 17th century. It's sometimes confused with a natural material and in fact there is a natural stone called aventurine which actually derived its name from the artificial as it was discovered after goldstone's invention.