Late Victorian Blue John Stud Earrings
Late Victorian Blue John Stud Earrings
$600.00
Description
DATE: Victorian, c.1890
Charming Blue John earrings dating from the latter half of the 19th century. The stone - aka Derbyshire Spar - is a rare form of fluoride with bands of purple/blue and yellow. Only found in the UK at the Blue John and Treak Cliff Caverns, it was mined through the 19th century for its ornamental value (mining continues on a small scale to this day). There's contention over the origins of the name. Some speculate that it derives from the Cornish miners who began working the Derbyshire mines in the 1740s; the Cornish word "bleujenn" (in Old Cornish "blodon", meaning flower or blossom) is used to refer to a few different types of rock or mineral including fluorspars. The most common explanation given is that it derives from the French "bleu-jaune" meaning simply blue-yellow.
The earrings each feature an oval cabochon with lighter streak across the middle, mounted in silver stud settings with applied ropework border.
STONES
Blue John
MEASUREMENTS
10.8 x 9.1mm
WEIGHT
1.7g
MARKS
No marks present, test as sterling silver
CONDITION
Very good, with fine antique patina
More From This Era
More Earrings
Follow Us
Dealing Podcast blog instagram TikTok facebook