It has long been known to me that certain objects want you as much as you want them. These are the ones that become important, the objects that you hold dear. The others fade from your life entirely. You wanted them, but they did not want you in return.
Sheila Heti
late victorian blue paste riviere
A late nineteenth century Victorian era riviere, earring, and brooch suite, comprised of blue and white pastes, the blue pastes set open-backed in silver, the colorless pastes set closed-back in silver, with matching earrings finished with screwback settings, and a matching brooch, necklace length 16 in, 45 grams.
The late Victorian period, from 1880-1900, was a time of great change in society at large, as well as in the aesthetics of jewelry. Elaborate ostentation in both dress and adornment gave way to refined simplicity. With the discovery of the Comstock Lode in 1859, silver became widely available for use in jewelry. Styles favored light colored jewelry set in silver, and some progressive women did away with daytime jewelry altogether. Necklaces featured fringes and festoons, and wide chokers worn high on the neck also became popular. The advent of electric lighting late in the century further solidified the use of diamonds in jewelry, often set 'a jour,' or open-backed, to take advantage of the enhanced lighting available in the evening.