This pair is only the second in 25 years of selling that I have offered for sale. So very scarce are the jewels from this period, and especially rare to find in their original condition. Most of the jewels of this period have been broken apart and re-configured. When the husbands died, many of the aristocratic women withdrew to convents and bequeathed their jewels to the church. Today, these precious pieces of art surface when a convent chooses to sell them, or wealthy families decide to offer them for sale.

These pendeloque earrings are set with glistening,sea foam green chrysoberyls, all pave set in silver and outlined with gold beaded borders. The earrings measure a bold 3 1/4 inches long X slightly less than 3/4 inches across the bow. They retain the original back to front silver wires. These can be replaced if desired.

They are completely original and in excellent condition. There is a mellow variation of hue, as expected with stones that are foiled. They are 27.3 grams. Similar examples are found in the National Museum of Ancient Art, Lisbon. For reference, Five Centuries of Jewellery, the book which features this collection, pages 88 and 94.

Rare and singularly beautiful. Portugal, 18th century