Rare Victorian 15kt Enamel & Genuine Feather Bird Earrings

An extremely rare and unusual pair of English earrings from the Victorian (c.1880) era! Each of these artistic earrings is crafted 15kt yellow and carries the shape of an exotic bird. The birds have a 3-dimensional appearance and swing with lovely movement when worn. Both birds are adorned with a bright, colorful enameled surface and delicate ruby eyes. Vibrant shades of green, blue, red enamel give a lively appearance to the design. Undoubtedly, the most unusual aspect of these unique earrings is the presence of real bird feathers that accent the surface of the bodies and wings. These genuine feathers have a fine, downy texture and exhibit natural iridescent coloring that shimmers softly under the light. Completing the design are Victorian era wire surmounts, which grasp a natural turquoise stone in a scalloped raised prong setting. An extraordinary antique treasure, these rare earrings are perfect for the serious Victorian collector!

Measurements: Each earring hangs approximately 1 1/8″ long, are 1″ at the widest point (from beak to tail) and have a depth of 1/4″.

Condition: The earrings show some signs of surface wear commensurate with age for a Victorian era piece. There is light fading to a few enameled areas, and some of the feathers are no longer intact. However, the wear does not detract from the beauty of the design, which is quite remarkable and rare. Both ruby cabochon eyes are intact, as are the turquoise stones. The wire surmounts are secure and in good condition. A tiny hook on the reverse side of one bird may have originally been used to hang a dangling element; the other has since been removed.