Black & White - Art Deco French Sterling Silver, Black Glass & Crystal Rhinestone Dangly Earrings (ADE039)

Black & White - Art Deco French Sterling Silver Black Glass & Crystal Rhinestone Dangly Earrings. These elegant earrings are crafted from sterling silver, and brass, hallmarked 925 for sterling silver. The earrings feature 6 glass beads, 8 round cut faceted crystal rhinestones, Art Deco era styling, and quality craftsmanship. These earrings are comprised of a brass wire, which is threaded with onyx black beads, and a silver decorative ring, which is adorned by sparkling crystal rhinestones. The earrings are designed for pierced ears, featuring sterling silver French leaver-backs, which were changed over at one point  from brass screw backs. The French lever-backs allow for easy wearing and a comfortable fit. These Art Deco era beauties are perfect for day or night wear. 

History: The history of glass jewelry began with prehistoric use of natural glass like obsidian, but man-made glass production started in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia around 1500 BCE. The Romans perfected glassblowing around the 1st century BCE, leading to the widespread production and use of intricate glass jewelry, which they used to imitate precious stones. Key developments continued with the Venetian glass industry and later the revival of Bohemian and Czech glass beads, which became famous for their intricate designs and colours.

Centuries ago, quartz pebbles with a high lead content were found sparkling on the banks of Europe's Rhine River. These beautiful, natural stones were highly coveted and were eventually depleted, inspiring jewelers to create an imitation, aptly named the "rhinestone."

Silver Mining in History. The story of silver mining began about 5,000 years ago. Silver was first mined around 3,000 BCE in Anatolia, now located in modern-day Turkey. The precious metal helped early civilizations in the Near East, Ancient Greece to flourish.

The term sterling silver denotes any silver alloy in which pure silver makes up at least 92.5 percent of the content. One theory is that the word sterling comes from the name Easterlings—coiners from east German states brought to England during the reign of Henry II (1154–89) to improve the quality of the coinage.

The history of brass dates back to ancient civilizations, with artifacts found in various regions, including the Middle East and Europe. It is believed that brass was first created around 5000 BCE when metallurgists accidentally mixed copper and zinc ores during the smelting process.

Measurements: Earrings (Including French Lever-Backs) 50.00 mm x 10.00 mm 

Stone Size: Glass Beads 10.00 mm - 8.00 mm     Crystal Rhinestones 2.50 mm each 

Weight: 9.30 grams 

Condition: Excellent         

Origin: France 

Date: Circa 1930