£420
MEMENTO MORI EARRINGS ETC
a pair of Victorian earrings featuring well carved bone skulls, mounted to dangle within yellow metal circular drops, length diameter 2.5cm, drop 4.5cm, together with a yellow metal mounted operculum shell, evil eye pendant, length 4.7cm, and a citrine heart pendant length 1.3cm, weight together 17.5cm
may I ask the condition please ?
A;- General condition, Skulls, nice quality items, no damage, mount is un-hallmarked yellow metal (probably gold) method of manufacture would not be possible in base metal, un-tested as the ring and ball are both hollow. Please see below for your query regarding whether they are bone or ivory.
Operculum mounted in un-hallmarked yellow metal (probably gold) not tested as I would ruin it, top ring probably not gold, citrine pendant all fittings appear to be un-hallmarked yellow metal.
I'm particularly interested in the skulls, any damage to them ?
A;- very tiny dent to both sides of one ring, and some polished out nicks that look like someone may have tested them for gold at some point.
Are they definitely bone not ivory. we would not be able to sell them if they were ivory, without a Cites certificate, and these items would be below the threshold for that. They are definitely bone, as the surface is covered with tiny black dots, and channels, these are the tracks of blood vessels that would have supplied the bone with blood... ivory does not have this. Please see images in the condition report file.
Fees apply to the hammer price:
Room and Absentee Bids:
28.80% inc VAT*
Online and Autobids:
31.8% inc VAT*
