I wrote about seed pearls two weeks ago but needed to come back to the topic to show off some beautiful seed pearl jewellery that is so typical of this period. Delicate gold jewellery set with seed pearls is a beautiful look and was very suitable for the lighter and softer materials that women began to wear. Delicacy and lightness were the features of much of the jewellery in the 1890s and into the first decade of the century. Of course, if you could afford, these necklaces could be set with diamonds, but seed pearls were the next best thing.
Have a look at the beautiful designs in this page from the 1900 Mappin &Webb catalogue.
If you are lucky, you can still find this seed pearl jewellery in its original box as below.
I love the bows, clusters and swags used. Often these necklets were worn by brides. Sometimes, they had a pendant which was detachable and which could be worn as a brooch.
The seed pearl brooch/pendant was also a piece of jewellery in its own right, with its own box.
navette jewellery 