Lot 219. Pair of Silver and Diamond Pendant-Earrings, circa 1800. Estimate 80,000 — 120,000 USD. Photo: Sotheby's. 

Of pendeloque design, the circular tops suspending pear-shaped pendants, spaced by bow motifs, set with numerous old mine and rose-cut diamonds; circa 1800.

Note: Diamond jewelry became highly fashionable in England toward the end of the eighteenth century. To supply this demand, London jewelers acquired gemstones from the French aristocracy fleeing Paris during the Revolution and adopted many of the styles favored at the court of Louis XVI, such as the pendeloque design found here. The pendeloque’s elongated outline counterbalanced the extreme height of the ladies’ coiffures with the bow motif complementing the abundance of ribbons adorning their dresses. The scarcity of diamonds led to most of these jewels being reconfigured into new designs, making the present earrings a rare vestige of eighteenth century elegance.

Sotheby's. Magnificent Jewels Including the Legendary Stotesbury Emerald, New York, 25 Apr 2017, 10:00 AM