Two classical heads are paired with miniature carved urns in shades of gray, cream, and terracotta. The heads have an archaizing quality, recalling early Greek and Etruscan sculpture in their symmetrical features, stylized curls, and rigid frontal presentation. They likely reference the ancient artifacts being unearthed in 19th-century excavations, which fascinated the Victorians.
During the 19th century, visitors to Naples purchased carved lava jewelry as souvenirs of their travels, particularly to Mount Vesuvius and the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Despite its name, “lava jewelry” wasn’t always made from solidified lava. The term was also applied to soft, fine-grained volcanic stones such as tuff, formed from compacted volcanic ash, which could be carved into remarkably detailed cameos. These materials occurred naturally in a range of colors, making them especially appealing to Grand Tourists shopping for jewelry.
MATERIALS: 14k gold ear wires (tests), silver, lava
AGE: c. 1860
CONDITION: Very good - these earrings were almost certainly assembled from a larger piece of jewelry
SIZE: 1 3/4" length measured from the top of the ear wire, 5/8" at the widest point