Description
Materials: hessonite garnets, solid 14k yellow gold (tested in 6 locations with electronic gold tester & muriatic-nitric acid)
Workmanship origin: Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Weight: 64.7 grams total (32.3 g per earring); reduced “day” version 35 grams total (17.5 g per earring)
Marks: [BA] [dove of the holy ghost] (struck on every element, in 6 locations) old contrast marks for Barcelona; since at least the 16th century, gold and silver articles produced in Spain have been struck with regional letter codes; this practice continues today, but since 1934 the letter “B” has represented Barcelona, where as for the 16-19th centuries, “BA” or “BAR” was the standard. Note that the same BA and dove marks are also found on Catalan earrings in the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection (Accession Number: 1980.343.30, .31, and 1980.343.32, .33)
Length: 146 mm (14.6 cm / 5 ¾ inches)
Dimension of each element: 46 x 18 mm upper, 72 x 33 mm middle, 62 x 19 mm lower
Total number of garnets: 96, approx. 40.5 ctw
Dimension of garnets (in mm): two 9 x 8, two 10 x 9, two 9 x 4, two 6 x 7, one 6 round, one 6 x 5.5, three 6 x 5, two 6 x 4, one 5.5, one 5, one 5 x 4, one 5 x 3.2, one 4.8 x 5.8, one 4.8 square, three 4.6 x 4, one 4.4 x 3.6, two 4 x 3, two 3.8 round, four 3.4 round, sixteen 3.2 round, fifteen, 3 round, sixteen 2.6 round, four 2.4 round, three 4 x 3.2, four 4 x 2.6, two 3.6 x 2.6, three 3 x 2.2
Condition: natural age-related patina, tarnish, surface wear, and grime to the gold (I have elected not to clean this piece to preserve the aged appearance). Again due to age, most of the garnets are not strictly perfect: many have surface wear such as tiny nibbles, faint scratches, corner chips, or abrasions to facet junctions. Most of this age-wear is visible only under loupe magnification. About 10 of the 96 stones bear flaws or blemishes visible to the naked eye, the most significant being a 1.7 mm scratch to one of the 10 x 9 mm oval garnets. Please note that a few garnets also bear natural surface reaching inclusions. The tips of two small decorative elements have lifted at the seam somewhat (minor issue; contact me for close ups and clarification). Some minor pin-sized shallow dents or unevenness to the connector bails. Overall these earrings are in excellent condition. There are no significant damage, no restoration, repair, replacement, or missing stones. All of the collet settings are still tight and pristine; no stones are loose and the foils are uncompromised. This piece has been well preserved.