Stunning French golden parure in original box

Although the exterior of this box was already very promissing when this box was offered to us (directly from a family) we were astound by its contents. Knowing that this parure is almost 200 years old, it's amazing that it's still in such an excellent condition and even well-guarded in its original box!

In France, the style in which this beautiful parure is made is called "Restoration" but in the Anglo-Saxon world this style is called Regency or perhaps even Victorian (Regency would be more accurate as Queen Victoria ascended the throne in 1837).

The Restoration refers to a period in France from the fall of the First Empire on April 6, 1814 to the revolution of July 29, 1830. The reason for its name is that in this period the sovereign monarchy was restored. This period was interrupted by "the Hundred Days" from 20 March to 22 June 1815 during which Napoleon took power. This interlude distinguished the so called "First Restoration" from the "Second".

OBJECT GROUP : Parures
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN : France
STYLE : Regency (in France called: "Restoration")
STYLE SPECIFICS : The wide spread golden surfaces of these jewels that are polychromatic covered with enamel flowers, butterflies and even a bird of paradise
PERIOD : 1820
SOURCE OF INSPIRATION : Flower symbolism
THEME : Flowers, a bird of paradise and butterflies all beautifully enameled in the surface of the jewels
MATERIAL : 18K yellow gold, except for the system at the back of the buckle that is guilded silver
TECHNIQUE : enamel
EXTRA INFO : A parure is a set of various items of matching jewelry, which rose to popularity in the 17th century. There are three chains in the box in three different lengths but what is so nice of it, is that the clasps are well hidden in the links so that once closed you can hardly see it. Futhermore besides wearing them seperate they can also be worn as one long chain. All together there are 22 enameled links that are skillfully enameled with flowers on both sides
TOTAL WEIGHT : 148.10 gram (95.23 dwt)
WEIGHT EARRINGS : 13.70 gram (8.81 dwt)
WEIGHT BUCKLE : 33.00 gram (21.22 dwt)
WEIGHT BROOCH : 8.50 gram (5.47 dwt)
WEIGHT SHORTEST CHAIN : 26.30 gram (16.91 dwt)
WEIGHT MIDDLE CHAIN : 32.90 gram (21.15 dwt)
WEIGHT LONGEST CHAIN : 34.40 gram (22.12 dwt)
WEIGHT CHAINS TOGETHER : 93.40 gram (60.06 dwt)
HALLMARKS : French illegible remains
OVER ALL CONDITION : Excellent
CONDITION CHAINS : Excellent
CONDITION BUCKLE : Good to excellent (there is some enamel missing on the body of the bird of paradise and a bit in the wings of the butterflies, but as the surface is skillfully engraved it hardly shows and one would think that it's supposed to be like that)
CONDITION BROOCH : Excellent
CONDITION EARRINGS : Acceptable (Somewhere in its 200 years existence the hooks that are supposed to be at the back of the top part have been replaced with simple studs. Some enamel is missing from both top parts and at one pendant of the earrings - at its back/top - there has been a little repair.)
MEASUREMENTS : Length earrings 8.04 cm (3.17 inch), height buckle 8.67 cm (3.41 inch), width brooch 5.62 cm (2.21 inch), three chains with a separate length of 50.00 cm (19.69 inch), 47.50 cm (18.70 inch) and 37.50 cm (14.76 inch) that can also be worn as one long chain with a total length of 135.00 cm (53.15 inch)


WHEN REFERRING TO THIS PIECE : Mention the following number: 07337-3316 or click here.


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Pre Victorian jewelry
Victorian jewelry
Victorian earrings
Victorian brooches
Victorian chains
Jewelry with enamel
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