Van Cleef & Arpels 18ct Gold Mother-of-Pearl Earrings, Alhambra Design
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Van Cleef & Arpels, 18ct gold and Mother-of-pearl 'Alhambra' earrings. Each earring designed as an open work four leaf clover, embellished with a mother-of-pearl plaque framed by a beaded surround, signed Vca for van Cleef & Arpels, numbered CL105306, post and clip fittings, length 14.5 mm.
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- Mother-Of-Pearl - Mother-of-pearl, technical name "nacre", is the inner layer of a sea shell. The iridescent colours and strength of this material were widely used in the nineteenth century as an inlay in jewellery, furniture, (especially papier mache furniture) and musical instruments.
In the early 1900s it was used to make pearl buttons. Mother-of-pearl is a soft material that is easily cut or engraved.
Nowadays it is a by-product of the oyster, freshwater pearl mussel and abalone industries. - Openwork in Jewellery - Openwork, also known as pierced work, is a decorative technique used in jewellery making that involves removing or cutting out sections of metal from a piece of jewellery to create a pattern or design. This technique can be used in a wide range of jewellery styles, including necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings.
Openwork jewellery can be made using a variety of different techniques, including hand carving, sawing, and laser cutting. The design can be simple or complex, and can feature a range of different shapes and motifs, from delicate floral patterns to bold geometric designs.
One of the advantages of openwork jewellery is that it can add visual interest and depth to a piece without adding a lot of weight or bulk. This can be particularly appealing in larger pieces, such as necklaces and bracelets, where heavy materials can be uncomfortable to wear.
This item has been included into following indexes:
- earrings, gold - gold, other 3,470
- earrings, set with - topaz 3,016
- Van Cleef & Arpels (France)