A special pair of Stuart crystal earrings in silver and gold. The 17th century Stuart crystals are unusual because they are oval with rosy-red foil and love tokens (woven fabric/hair) under the swirling gold cyphers. The crystals measure 11mm x 14mm, the earrings measure ⅞” overall. These oval crystals have faceted edges at the girdle, are closed-set and crimped in silver bezels over the foil, love token, and cyphers, which are visible under the crystal. These earrings have gold, graceful shepherd’s crook earwires, which go into the front of the ear. A rare commemorative of Charles I of England, who died in 1649, these Stuart crystal pieces were only created in England and are highly prized.

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Price: $1675

*Stuart crystals have fascinated lovers of antique jewelry for many years, and for good reason. These beautiful gems were initially created in 1649, when King Charles I, the martyred King of England, was executed under Cromwell’s rule. People loyal to the Stuart monarchy (Royalists) wished to memorialize their lost King, to show their support and sympathy, by wearing slides, pendants, rings, earrings or cufflinks with his initials, crowns, or a likeness of the fallen King, set in gold or silver under a crystal. Thus they became known as Stuart crystals, as they were commemorative of King Charles I, of the House of Stuart. Royalists opposed Charles I’s execution, believing that he was God’s chosen leader, and feeling that his death was not justice, but murder. Later in the 17th century, the crystals were worn by Jacobites against the deposition of James II and the Stuart monarchy in 1688. Showing support for fallen monarchs was dangerous, so many Stuart crystals were diminutive and were worn secretly.

These amazing pieces of jewelry were made up of clear, faceted rock crystals, enclosing  love tokens (pieces of ribbon, cloth, or hair), with initials (sometimes the King’s monogram) worked in fine gold wire into cyphers on top, and a foil backing (rose, pink, red, silver, sometimes blue or green, in color). The whole mounting was closed-back set in silver or gold. This did not open but was rubbed over the crystal or sealed in a crimped manner.

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