Featured Interesting pins converted from earrings?

Just posting 2 pins from a house call I did last week...

I assumed these were gold filled but once I cleaned them (they were filthy!), I suspect gold. I checked and they are 14k. The portraits are porcelain with a painted women on each, one facing to the left, the other to the right.

Looking at the backs with a loupe it looks like they were earrings converted to pins. I can see where the top part of the earring backs were cut off. I can also see a small indent at the bottom where I think the end of the earring back would snap in to keep them secure while worn.

It looks like they were converted a long time ago from the c-clasp and tube hinge.

Thy are sweet and I thought they might be interesting to post

 

Those are very pretty. What a great find. I would have worn them as earrings but I bet they look fun together as small brooches.

 

I admired these in your finds thread. They are so lovely. How interesting they were converted into small brooches. Thanks for sharing and including the photos how they did the conversion!

 

They are, and they are! Love them. If only they could be converted back to earrings....
They look ca 1840-50 to me, converted only a few decades later, maybe 1880 or so.
Be careful with them, the gold on these is usually hollow and thin, so it dents easily.

 

I always get nostalgic when I see items like this. In my mind at least, the earrings belonged to a beloved family member and were converted so that two daughters, sisters etc would have a piece to remind them of their cherished loved one. They made their way back together at some point. Beautiful pieces!

 

They are lovely!

 

These are amazing! Great find!
Couldn t you convert them back to earrings easily by attaching gold fishook clasps to them?
I l not sure but I think that would make sure these stay together and it could improve what they are worth.
Just my two penny's...they are lovely as is also.

 

I had thought about that but the gold is quite thin and I'm afraid to try!