Georgian 18K Gold Amethyst Parure |
My specialty is
antique jewelry! My favorite period of antique jewelry is Georgian.
Hey. Do you know that antique jewelry periods are named
for the English monarchs who were reigning in England during the time period?
King George IV |
On the left is King George IV notice his fancy clothing and over the top ornamentation? Can you imagine Prince Charles wearing all those jewels and huge Satin Bows on his shoulders?
What else do you need to know about Georgian jewelry?
But, I can tell you that this period of a hundred and 15 years had "...great strides in science and world exploration, the advent of rail travel and a changing role for women in society created the perfect backdrop for the creation of the magnificent jewelry we call Georgian." Nice huh, so poetic.
The Period of Georgian Jewelry can be broken down into to the three artistic styles /aesthetics of the times:
Rococo, Gothic Revival/Romanticism and Neoclassicism
All three styles overlapped and in my mind are equally
important and fun. We are going to start with Rococo. (Pronounced row-cocoa)
Rococo style is best described as flamboyant, ostentatious, Louis XIV style, or blinged out bedazzled style. This fabulously over the top artistic style started in Paris in
the early 1700’s championed by King Louis XIV and made infamous by King Louis XVI and his fabulous wife Marie Antoinette.
Versailles Rococo Masterpiece |
You know about King Louis XIV? He built the palace Versailles. Ah Versailles, the gilded, sparkling, temple of flamboyant indulgence and excess. the quintessential example of the Rococo aesthetic pictured here, for some reason during the French Revolution this castle became a symbol the excessive luxury and absolute power of the French monarchy. Go figure?
A magnificent example of the Rococo Georgian jewelry is the famous necklace pictured at the top of the page. This necklace was a gift from King Louis XVI to his wife the one and only Marie-Antoinette. His grandfather decorated a castle, he decorated his wife. She did love her bling, in fact her wedding dress was covered in real diamonds.
A Small Sample of Marie Antoinette's Jewels
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What does the jewelry look like?
Fancy with highly complicated designs heavily decorative with asymmetrical gems set elaborately as possible in gold. Often with bows, tear drop shaped dangling stones, and chandelier earrings. The fancy name for 3 pear shaped dangling stones in the style of a chandelier is called girandole pronounced (Jeer-in-dole). Bows, leaves, and and three tear drops is the most common design from this era.
Fancy with highly complicated designs heavily decorative with asymmetrical gems set elaborately as possible in gold. Often with bows, tear drop shaped dangling stones, and chandelier earrings. The fancy name for 3 pear shaped dangling stones in the style of a chandelier is called girandole pronounced (Jeer-in-dole). Bows, leaves, and and three tear drops is the most common design from this era.
How do you identify Georgian Jewelry?
Rose cut diamonds |
Also Georgian stones may have foil around the edges. This was meant to compliment the stones by glow of candlelight.
Like in these earrings pictured bellow. Gold and amethyst made in Spain, these gorgeous earrings come apart in three pieces. You can wear the tops alone, wear the tops and bottoms, or go full on diva and wear them full length.
These Georgian earrings are from my personal collection.
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