Early Victorian Gold Pinchbeck Torpedo Earrings

Wonderful example of torpedo drop earrings from the 1830's & 1840's. Their size and lightness were dictated by fashion and economic factors. The horizontal lines of style of dress and hair needed to be offset by long pendants. While at the same time the scarcity of precious metal encouraged the use of wafer-thin foil of embossed gold. This pair is in gilded metal or Pinchbeck.