The Catalan earring
the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century
The Catalan earring from the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century.
The earring is a gem that is attached to the earlobe
Over the centuries the earrings were a important element in personal ornamentation of women and men of different civilizations. The earrings like all jewels, apart from having an ornamental function has a personal, differentiator, Identification of group and social hierarchy.
but now, we want to watch the traditional Catalan earring, as artistic expression, used by women since the late eighteenth century to the early nineteenth century.
These earrings are made of gold and silver and lead embedded garnets, topazis, ametistes i diamonds. The decorations are mainly or geometries reminiscent plant. A study jewelry so exquisite and delicate as exuberant.
Note that the beauty and artistic expression of this complicity does not exempt from being both a Jewel practical and portable, since the Catalan earrings are made with removable bodies. The earrings can have up to four distinct parts.
The button that fits the subject and earlobe, preferably is square or rectangular and is where to get the hanging of the central part which in turn has two more hanging, one on each side and another hanging in the middle of which hangs a smaller one under terms of completion of the earring.
The forms fine earrings evoke herring, For this reason the Catalan earrings are also known as earrings herring. Also remember the shapes of butterfly with outstretched wings, almond or loop.
The reason earrings have independent bodies is that they were more portable and, versatile and practical. The earrings could grow at the same rate and for women to use they make of joy, in other words that is, for everyday use and maybe used the button first stage and the others were going be added according to the importance of the occasion or social event.
A mounted earring with all parties about 10 cm long and 2,5 cm wide.
M. Àngels Canut
Art historian