Pair of Earrings in Chinoiserie Style
Date: about 1820
Dimensions:
L: 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm)
Medium: Silver, gold, diamonds, pearlls and rubies
Place of Origin: England
Classification: Jewelry
Credit Line: Mr. and Mrs. George M. Jones, Jr. Fund
Object number: 2000.24A-B
Label Text:The appeal of long earrings was prompted by the dress and hairstyles of the English Regency period, when the Prince Regent, George IV, ruled (1811–1820). The exotic birds and pagoda-shaped elements of these earrings reflect the period’s romantic taste for the Far East, known as chinoiserie (sheen-WAH-zer-ee).
Pierced earrings were a sign of maturity. The first pair of earrings was usually given to a young girl in England at age 16, when simple ‘top-and-drop’ pearl earrings were considered to be more appropriate for a young, unmarried girl. These stunning pagoda earrings, an entirely Western invention, would have been worn on formal occasions by a fashion-conscious, mature woman. When wearing diamond jewelry at this time, it was recommended that a lady should apply rouge to her face to highlight the sparkling jewels.
Pierced earrings were a sign of maturity. The first pair of earrings was usually given to a young girl in England at age 16, when simple ‘top-and-drop’ pearl earrings were considered to be more appropriate for a young, unmarried girl. These stunning pagoda earrings, an entirely Western invention, would have been worn on formal occasions by a fashion-conscious, mature woman. When wearing diamond jewelry at this time, it was recommended that a lady should apply rouge to her face to highlight the sparkling jewels.
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