Beautiful georgian flat cut garnet foiled cut earrings in a naturalistic foliate design.
Gold backed and with removable drops so that the tops can be worn during the day for a discreet look.
 
The fittings go through the ear from the back to the front rather like the french poissardes.
 
From Ginny Reddington Dawes and Olivia Collings (Georgian Jewellery).......
 
 
"The most desirable gemstone of Georgian day jewellery was undoubtedly the garnet. Jewellers took flat - cut garnets, foiled them (enhancing the stones by placing a tinted metallic foil underneath) to the rich colour of crimson, and arranged them in pleasing naturalistic flower and foliate designs. They were presented in large parures (sets) replete with earrings, pairs of bracelets that formed a choker, hair ornaments, and necklaces possessing a removable pendent drop, some of which have a pin - back mechanism which allowed it also to be worn as a brooch. These drops were often in the shape of a Maltese cross, which was made popular by Lady (Emma) Hamilton, Lord Nelson's mistress, who had collected money and food for the beleaguered Maltese at the end of the eighteenth century when they were being invaded by France. What started out as a wearable medal for good works quickly became a fashionable pendant worn by English women everywhere.
 
Flat cut garnet jewellery was in demand in the eighteenth century, as it was affordable, attractive on almost every complexion, and looked particularly well on young women. The range of colours depended on whether the garnet was almandine (which, when foiled, was tinged pink, red or purple) or hessonite (tinged orange, red or rust).
The pieces from the mid - 1700s were chokers, often set in silver. The later pieces (c.1780) were necklets set in gold." - Georgian Jewelley Ginny Reddington Dawes, Olivia Collings.
 
weighs - 6.4g
measures - 42mm long approx
high carat gold 
English circa 1820
 
Excellent condition