ANTIQUE VICTORIAN CARRIAGE BALL EARRING COVER Antique, Victorian with strong Etruscan Revival style, 18k gold, carriage ball earring covers made circa 1850-80.<P><P>
Approx 11mm (between 1/4 and 1/2 inch) in diameter. Weigh 5 grams.<P><P>
Very rare item: in the days of carriage travel and hijackings, wealthy women covered their gems with these globes that would fit around the drop wire and gem.<P><P>
Hinged, perfectly round globes with slots to accommodate the upper loops/wires and tiny granule thumbpieces for clasping and opening the hemispheres. The surface is

entirely covered with minute, superb filigree twisted wirework, exquisitely applied in the Neo Classic, Etruscan Revival style, popular at the time. It is highly

unusual to find carriage covers, and normally they are not either as beautiful as this pair, nor in such fabulous condition.<P><P>
The earrings test for 18k gold.<P><P>
Good condition.
Manufacturer: ANTIQUE VICTORIAN CARRIAGE BALL EARRING COVERS 18K GOLD