Earrings

Traditional jewellery often followed out-dated aristocratic examples. Many Spanish traditional earrings were based on 17th and 18th century patterns, but over time local differences became fixed, and patterns became characteristic of a particular place.

These earrings come from Zaragoza. Their girandole shape is 18th century in origin, but the green pastes, and particularly the small pieces of mirror glass, are typical of 19th century Spanish traditional jewellery. The import of emeralds from South America from the late 16th century onwards made green the most fashionable colour in jewellery throughout Spain. These earrings would have been worn with a matching pendant.