Victorian Era Pietra Dura Earrings

Pietra Dura is a specialized mosaic art form dating back to ancient Rome, where it first decorated important and opulent structures. Likened to a painting in stone, hand-cut and polished gems or stones are placed with great precision and skill into a marble ‘canvas’.  Demand for this beautiful art quickly evolved into personal adornment, as seen in this pair of late 19th-century earrings.

Delightful blue flowers and buds rise on green stems, portrayed in a round black marble background. The floral depiction is complemented by a warm 14K yellow gold setting with fine rope twist trim and a delicate scalloped surround. Omega backs comfortably secure and support the earrings. A perfect combination of artistry, culture, and color that will lend an air of sophistication to a variety of styles and ensembles.

Circa 1880