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Each earring in this pair consists of a carved oval red and white agate cameo depicting dancing classical women set in an oval gold-plated mount. The cameos are suspended from a gold bezel-mounted cut pearl, which in turn hangs from a gold bead. The earrings attach with screw back fasteners. They are unmarked.
earrings (jewelry)
agate (chalcedony)
pearl (animal material)
gold (metal)
plating (metal coating)
Classical Revival (European revival style)
Earring
Original to Merwin House (Stockbridge, Mass.),
526
1966.2260.1
1966.2260.2
Unknown
Bequest of Vipont de R.D. Merwin
1966.2260AB
For information on cameos see Bennett, David and Daniela Mascetti, "Understanding Jewellery," (1989); Bury, Shirley, "Jewellery, 1789-1910," v. 1 (1991): 215-232; Fales, Martha Gandy, "Jewelry in America, 1600-1900," (1995): 227-236; Miller, Anna M. "Cameos Old & New," 3rd Edition (2005).
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