DATE: Victorian, c.1850

Charming antique leverback earrings, navette shaped and set with two neoclassical shell cameos. Hebe was, to the ancient Greeks, goddess of eternal youth (or the prime of life, her Roman counterpart being Juventas) and forgiveness. Along with the usual Olympian traits of superhuman strength, immortality, vitality, etc., she had influence over eternal youth, and the ability to restore youth to mortals - a power seemingly exclusive to her. The daughter of Zeus and Hera, she was known for her incredible beauty and would go on to marry Heracles, at which point she resigned her position as cup bearer. Philostratus the Elder suggested that Hebe was the youngest of the gods, and since she was responsible for keeping them eternally young was the most revered by her divine counterparts. Pindar, in Nemean Ode 10, refers to her as the most beautiful of all goddesses.

They're crafted in 15 karat gold with beautiful rope-twist borders around the stones. Dating from the 1850s.

STONES 

Shell Cameos

MEASUREMENTS 

3.1 x 1.3cm

WEIGHT 

4.4g

MARKS 

JA maker's mark

Tests as 15k gold

CONDITION 

Very good, light wear commensurate with age. The leverbacks are later 19th century additions