The Galleon Pierced Earrings feature small round vintage intaglios of golden sailing ships contrasted against a black background. They are set in shiny black gunmetal settings and they hang on gold-finished stainless steel fishhook ear wires.
Intaglio is a technique in which an image is carved or engraved into gemstone, crystal, or other material. It is, essentially, a cameo in reverse. It was quite useful in centuries past, when designs were carved into the tops of rings and used to make a raised image in soft wax in order to seal a letter.
The intaglio cabochons in these earrings are vintage. The images are carved into the backs of the cabochons and hand-painted. This gives the images a three-dimensional quality when viewed from the front. The cabochons have smooth domed tops and the colors remain vibrant.
Size of cabochon: about 1/2 an inch (13mm)
Total length of drop: just under 1-1/2 inches
Total width of earring: a little over 1/2 an inch
Ear wires: gold-finished stainless steel fishhooks
We have only one pair of these earrings, and we haven't found any more of these ship intaglios anywhere (and, believe us, we've been looking)!
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