A pair of early nineteenth century seed pearl day-to-night earrings, formed in two parts, with detachable lower section, centering foiled, orangey-pink topaz set into gold collets, seed pearls woven into mother-of-pearl backplates, with original back-to-front ear closures, length 1.75 in, circa 1800. 

Seed pearls, sourced primarily from India, were an essential component of eighteenth and nineteenth century jewelry. They were strung onto long tasseled sautoirs to be worn elegantly draped around the neck. Seed pearls were also frequently halved and mounted in collets to accent gemstones set into earrings, rings, brooches, and necklaces. Particularly exquisite and delicate are the jewels formed of woven seed pearls attached using white horse hair to carved and drilled mother-of-pearl backplates, sometimes featuring precious gemstones at the center of an elaborately woven seed pearl design. These can be particularly rare to find today and are highly prized by the collector, given their beauty and frailty.