Antique gold and pearl tassel earrings

A pair of antique yellow gold and natural seed pearl tassel earrings. With Borbonic gold hallmark, made in Sicily between 1830 and 1870. The top of round design suspending two leaves and a cascade of pearls. 6.5 cm

In 1867 Castellani aroused a certain surprise during the Paris Exhibition, alongside his creations in Byzantine and Etruscan style he exhibited, divided by region, a notable collection of "Italian National Goldsmithing". This collection included necklaces, earrings, hair pins, brooches, bracelets and rings. The aim was to show the Italian goldsmith tradition to the international public and influence modern production. It is therefore not surprising that after the Exposition Universelle, this collection was purchased by the Art and Science department of the South Kensington Museum. In 1884 the Musée des Arts décoratifs in Paris purchased a complete series of jewels from the so called "Peasant Collection" and a group of Indian jewels collected by Alessandro Castellani.