18ct Gold, Diamond and Mother-of-Pearl Earrings by Franz Huppertz

Large 18ct Yellow and White Gold, Diamond, Mother-of-Pearl and Wood Drop Earrings by Franz Huppertz

  

A pair of 18ct yellow gold, mother-of-pearl and diamond pendant earrings, by Franz Huppertz, designed in the Modernist taste, each with stud composed of a small, rounded rectangular mother-of-pearl panel (soft, warm, off-white grey), overlaid with a yellow gold motif of a stylised bird on a branch, and with a yellow gold fold-over frame and yellow gold reverse-panel, fixed with a pin and butterfly. Each stud supports a larger, hinged pendant, composed of a rounded rectangular mother-of-pearl panel (soft, warm, off-white grey), overlaid with a stylised yellow and white gold and wood motif, embellished with 5 round brilliant-cut diamonds (10 in total, circa 0.10cts in total), and with a yellow gold fold-over frame. The larger pendants are open at the reverse, revealing the mother-of-pearl panels (golden hue) and the terminations of the motif pins. The reverse yellow gold panels of the studs have an impressed maker's mark "F Hup", "18ct" and "750".

 

Franz Huppertz was born in Eshweiler, Germany, and worked as an internationally renowned, award-winning jeweller in Cape Town, South Africa with a studio, Franz Huppertz Jewellers at the Stuttafords Town Square in Adderley Street, followed by a second studio in Cavendish Close in Claremont until his death in 1997. For a detailed biography see: South African Goldsmiths Research Project: South African precious metal design between 1960 and 1980 (sagoldsmiths.blogspot.com)

 

Weight                                    18.7g

Age                                         Circa 1970

Dimensions                             Each circa 45.65mm x 20.30mm;

                                                13.54mm deep including pin

Origin                                      South Africa

Condition                                Excellent

Stock Code                             AJ930