Antique Victorian earrings gold blue enamel pearls hearts English love (7524)

Antique Victorian earrings. Gold, pearls, blue guilloche enamel. Made in Great Britain, circa 1860-1890. 
 

Measurements:

Weight is 14.5 grams. approximately 1 1/8 inches (3.5cm) long, not including wires.

Antique Victorian earrings gold blue enamel pearls hearts English love

Heart shaped ear pendants. Luscious, opulent heart shapes, the upper halves with deep royal blue enamel ground. In the centers, flowers formed by gold and tiny seed pearls. The hearts are suspended via gold loops from a surmount of gold set with a larger pearl. These in turn are connected to gold wires that are easy to insert and comfortable to wear. 
The loops allow the earrings to swing and sway as the wearer moves. This adds visual interest. 
Somewhat rounded backs show the quality of the workmanship. In addition, the centers of the backs are set with a gold screw. This would allow the backs to be opened and possibly to exchange the central flower, making the earrings more versatile. 
Wonderful quality workmanship and fabulous appearance. Romantic and versatile. 
Wires are possibly replacements, which is very common with antique earrings. 

Marks and Metal:

No marks found. We tested the gold as at least 10k. 
     

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.   Please note that white flashes on the enamel in pictures are an illusion due to the light and camera and there is no damage to the enamel whatsoever.

THE STORY:

The heart has been one of the most enduring symbols of love through the ages.  We associate the Victorians with deeply romantic people. This pair of earrings is a fabulous example of the love tokens that they generously gave as tokens of their affection. 
This rich, blue enamel became popular during the late Georgian era, when it was associated with royalty (hence the term 'royal blue'). The colors used in this pair of earrings are Very English - solid contrasts for a greater effect. The balance between the white, gold and blue is perfect and will suit and enhance any person and any outfit.