Adoration, Loyalty & Longevity : Australian ‘High Colonial Period’ Golden Sunflower Earrings

You’d never guess that earrings that make such a statement could flutter so delicately at your earlobes, these gorgeous things are so easy to wear! They have just the right weight to swing gently as you move yet not be a burden on your ears. A wonderful whimsy and a big pop of golden sunshine 💛

Handmade during the Early Colonial Period (1788 – 1850) of solid gold repoussé components, these yellow gold earrings feature a large flower reminiscent of a sunflower in a wreath of boughs. A curling tendril of gold leads to a leaf at the top of the earring. The simple shepherds hooks are a later replacement, but very suitable and in keeping with the style of the earrings.

Every tiny part of these earring is covered in details – the petals have crinkle lines, the boughs have bak-like texture and the leaves are finely granulated. By contrast the central ball at the heart of each flower is smooth as satin. The overall effect is very lovely.

The natural world was of great interest during Victorian times following naturalist Charles Darwin’s “Voyage of the Beagle”. The details of exotic flora and fauna Darwin documented on his voyages ignited an interest in all living things – this fascination carried through into the fashion of the times. Concurrent with the interest in the world around us was the particularly unscientific Victorian notion of floriography which ascribed poetic symbolism to flowers, and could be used as a way of sending coded messages or conveying sentiment. The sunflower was said to symbolise adoration, loyalty and longevity – one might imagine these golden dangles could have been given as a gift from an adoring husband to his wife, perhaps as a Christmas or anniversary present.

Description

Long dangle earrings in solid yellow gold, made during the Victorian Era, circa 1860 -1880, these large and bold earrings are replete with summer sunshine.

Made from various high carat gold components: the top section with leaf tests as 15ct, while the large bottom circle and flower is 20ct. The ear wires are later 9ct replacement wires. There are no hallmarks present, which is quite usual for jewellery of this vintage. They have been XRF tested to determine the gold content.

There is a small repair to the back of one earring where a new loop has been added. It is invisible when worn.

The earrings measure approximately 33mm from top to bottom (not including the shepherds hook), 18mm wide and 5.3mm deep. The drop is a total of 44.3mm from the top of the hook to the bottom of the crossed boughs.

Additional information

Era

Victorian Era circa 1860 -1880

Metal

Yellow gold, various components XRF test from 9ct – 20ct

Dimensions

Approximately 33mm from top to bottom (not including the shepherds hook), 18mm wide and 5.3mm deep.
The drop is a total of 44.3mm from the top of the hook to the bottom of the crossed boughs.

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