Peranakan Enamel Jewellery, Antique Chinese Jewellery
Description
22k Peranakan enamel jewellery comprising a pair of earrings and a ring, from around the turn of the century.
The thick but small huggies are handcrafted with a spring opening, typical in Straits Chinese earrings of this kind.
This pair is unique as it can be worn two ways, with colour (enamel) or with gold granulation. Half of each hoop is enamelled with green-blue-white-red leaf motif while the other half is gold repoussé.
It’s a novelty to see antique Chinese jewelry adopt a ‘fancy’ touch like this. Of course this is Peranakan whim and wonder at work, influenced by Victorian enamel jewelry and adapting it to an Eastern flavour.
Each hoop is 3.5mm thick (where the enamel is) and with a diameter about 1.3cm. It is a petite pair of huggie earrings that gets better the older they are.
The ring is blue-white-red enamel in a line of hearts.
Both pieces bear Chinese hallmarks and are likely to be at least 90 years old.
