A pair of early nineteenth century Georgian ‘topaz’ paste earrings set in gilded, cut-down collet settings, backed in gold foil, foil in excellent condition with little to no oxidation, settings with slight tarnish commensurate with age, each paste drop measures 0.5 in.

Paste jewelry has its origins in the seventeenth century, though few pieces from this period have survived until today; notable examples of paste jewelry are obtainable from the eighteenth and early nineteenth century, though the quality of pieces generally declined during the latter half of the nineteenth century as paste was used primarily as a substitute for increasingly available gemstones. On the contrary, during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, paste jewelry existed as an art form in its own right, not simply as a substitute for something more valuable. Paste was desirable for its malleability in gem cutting, as pieces could be readily cut into a variety of shapes allowing for intricate and elaborate designs, particularly when paired with closed-backed and foiled settings.