A striking pair of 19th-century coral earrings, hand-carved in the Neapolitan coral-working tradition of Torre del Greco, Italy. Each earring is crowned with a polished coral bead set in a gold collet on a hand-formed gold shepherd's hook, from which a full-blown chrysanthemum blossom is suspended — layered tiers of pointed coral petals radiating around a hand-textured coral center. The reverse reveals the traditional period construction, with individually shaped petals riveted onto a fitted scalloped gold backing plate, a hallmark of fine 19th-century coral work.

Rich in the warm salmon-orange tone prized in antique coral, these earrings are as sculptural as they are wearable — a rare surviving example of Victorian coral jewelry at its most romantic.

Details:
Origin: Italy, coral-carving tradition of Torre del Greco
Period: Victorian, circa 1860–1880
Material: Natural coral, gold-mounted
Dimensions: approx. 55 x 29 mm
Weight: 24.5 g (pair)
Condition: Antique, consistent with age; please see photos for full detail