18TH CENTURY PASTE 'GIRANDOLE' EARRINGS

Cf. L. d’Orey, Five Centuries of Jewellery, National Museum of Ancient Art, Lisbon, London, 1995, pp. 80-81, fig. 109 and 110

‘Girandole’ describes a design employed for both earrings and brooches popular during the 18th century. Although common throughout Europe, it is often especially associated with Spanish and Portuguese production, and consists of a central bow motif, suspending three pear shaped drops, all of which hang from a principal cluster top.