Crosses in Regency Jewelry

When I first started researching Georgian jewelry, I couldn't help but notice how frequently cross pendants were featured.  They show up on originals, but also are regular guests in fashion plates:

Early 19th Century Pink Topaz cross, sold at Sotheby's

Elizabeth Monroe's Topaz cross pendant (1817-1825), Smithsonian

Given how common they were, I really wanted to have them as an option for my reproduction Regency jewelry.  I'm a big fan of trying to reproduce the most common types of jewelry, and crosses certainly qualify!

I was frustrated in my searching.  I couldn't find anything that had the right "look" and I didn't want to settle.  I found a few settings, but they were either too small or too big or were for square rhinestones, and the major thing I noticed is that the stones in the originals were almost always ovals or round.

Circa 1770 Georgian Paste cross pendant, Via Ebay

Finally, after exhaustive searching and emailing and researching, I found a company in Germany that makes settings for modern Swarovski jewelry and they made some settings for me in my requested size.  I'm always nervous when ordering custom made stuff because it doesn't always work out (ask me about the hundreds of unusable settings I have lingering around in my craft room...), but these were everything I hoped they would be!  I spilled the beans about these on my Facebook page earlier this week because I just couldn't wait!

Reproduction Georgian Cross Pendants by Dames a la Mode

A reproduction paste glass cross pendant hooked on to one of my collet necklaces

Some of the colors of reproduction Regency cross pendants I offer

I'm really thrilled with these, and I think they really capture the look of the cross pendants from the period.  What do you think?

Jane and Cassandra Austen's Topaz crosses, at Chawton House

19th Century faceted paste pendant, via Ebay

Circa 1830s Topaz cross, via Ebay

Circa 1830s Aquamarine cross, via Ebay

Amethyst Paste cross, circa 1780, via DB Gems

I'm planning on offering this mostly as custom orders and add-ons to my reproduction collet necklaces, but I've listed a few stand-alone cross pendants in my Etsy shop if you'd like to take a look: https://www.etsy.com/shop/damesalamode

1790s Sparkles

Last night I went to the Birthnight Ball at Gatsby's Tavern in Alexandria, VA.  This is a ball set in 1793 and is celebrated to honor George Washington's birthday.  It's a really unusual year, costume-wise.  I mean, how often do you see events in the 1790s?

I did a bit of digging in fashion plates to see what kind of jewelry I should wear, and my favorite source for 1790s fashions is, without question, Gallery of Fashion.  

So far I haven't found any colored jewels in the Gallery of Fashion plates (thought by no means have I read every description- they may very well be there), but you see diamonds show up a lot.

Gallery of Fashion, April 1796. (Detail)

A partial description of this plate: "Diamond clasp upon the shoulder...upper bracelets and girdle of black velvet, set with Diamonds.  Diamond necklace and earrings."  Her hair is described as having "Diamond pin and black velvet loop, trimmed with Diamonds in the front."

Gallery of Fashion, February 1795 (Detail)

She is described as having a "Diamond necklace and earrings" and her hair has "A Diamond star in the front, and Diamond pins around the cap."

Gallery of Fashion, June 1795 (Detail). 

If you can get past her derpy face, the description on her plate includes: "Festoon Diamond necklace and Diamond earrings" while her hair is described as "ornamented with Diamonds."  I also adore her fan!                                  

Gallery of Fashion, June 1795 (Detail)

This lovely lady is wearing "two Diamond pins in the front" of her hair and "A Diamond necklace and Earrings."

Gallery of Fashion, March 1796 (Detail).

Not only does this lady have truly spectacular feathers, but she also has "A Diamond necklace" with a lovely pendant.

 I have some truly stunning vintage Czech glass "diamonds" so I decided to make a little demi-parure with a necklace and earrings.  I love these cushion octagon shapes, which look so "real" to me.   I wanted to have some festoons on it (those are the little loopy bits) or a pendant, but the truth is that I ran out of time.  Between having my hair done by the magnificent Jenny la Fleur and getting dressed for the ball, I threw together this necklace and earrings.  No time for fiddling with the fancy bits!

Inspired by so many of the women with their hair ornaments, I also wore a set of my 18th Century Aigrettes (Hair jewels), which are available in my Etsy shop at the link.

Overall I'm very pleased with the look of this outfit, and I think the choice of simple yet sparkling Diamond jewels really pulled it all together!  If you are interested in a set made of these stones, just contact me through my Etsy shop and I'll be more than happy to make you a custom set!

By the way, if you are interested in seeing the full plates and descriptions, I've posted them in their entirety on my fashion plate Tumbler.