A Pair of Magnificent Victorian Era Antique Gold Leaf Earrings

These naturalistically modeled and superbly detailed DAY / NIGHT gold antique earrings were made in St Petersburg, Russia around 1870 by Simon Antonen.

The veins of the gold leaves are highlighted with blue translucent enamel. The gold flexible “berries” are set with natural pearls.

The upper parts are modeled as chased ‘S’ shaped scrolls flanked by two matted leaves, each set with five rose-cut diamonds and can be worn separately as day earrings.

Length 6,2 cm (2 3/8 in.)

Both earrings are marked with St Petersburg coat of arms – two crossed anchors and a scepter, maker’s initials ‘C A’ for Simon Antonen, and 56 zolotniks, an old Russian gold standard (14K).

Simon Pavlovich Antonen, a St Petersburg jeweler, mentioned in 1867, had a workshop at Nikolskaya Street 3.

see A.Ivanov Gold And Silversmiths In Russia 1600 – 1926, Vol. I, page 74, Nr 185