Antique Mother of Pearl Brooch & Earrings with Steel Surrounds

Antique painted mother of pearl brooch & earrings with cut…
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Antique painted Mother of pearl brooch & earrings with cut steel surrounds. Approx size 20 x 17 mm, 27 x 22 mm. Mother of pearl inserts to the reverse are a/f the posts as later

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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.
  • Cut Steel Decoration - Cut steel decoration is a technique used in the production of jewelry and other decorative items that involves cutting steel pieces into small, faceted shapes and then attaching them to a metal base. These small steel pieces, often called "cut steel beads" are then arranged to form intricate designs, and then attached to a metal base to create a piece of jewelry. This technique was popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly during the Georgian and Victorian eras.

    The steel pieces were usually cut with a chisel and hammer, the process was time consuming and labor-intensive, and required a high level of skill. The steel was cut and shaped into small beads or other decorative shapes, and then polished to a high shine. These beads were then strung together or attached to a metal base to create a piece of jewelry or other decorative item.

    Cut steel decoration was often used to create jewelry, such as necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, as well as other decorative items, such as buttons and buckles. The jewelry was particularly popular during the Georgian and Victorian eras, as it was considered fashionable and was relatively inexpensive to produce.
  • A/f, as Inspected - The letters "A/F" or "as inspected" as part of a description is the cataloguer's shorthand for "all faults" or "as found", meaning the item has some type of damage or deficiency, it is of uncertain date or provenance, and/or that the seller takes no responsibility for the completeness of the item or the accuracy of the description.