To prevent tarnishing and regular cleaning of the jewels, perhaps that would be a possible, but somewhat brutal and unusual solution. Engineering style, as I know it rather from far less expensive exhibits. If we are correct in our assumption, the jewels are technically still in their original condition, but they have still lost their authenticity. A great pity.
Looking for similar pieces as a reference for the joint use of gold and silver, I found the Norwegian emerald tiara pretty much set in gold (emeralds) and silver (diamonds) like the Angouleme emerald tiara. But I think it's possible that the Swedish Leuchtenberg Sapphire Tiara is set in silver:
Christin Zi auf Twitter: "Internationally you admire this jewellery. Many of those pieces came to Sweden through Queen Josefina.“ - HM #QueenSilvia #KungligaSmycken #Kungahuset 📸 SVT https://t.co/8lfrszBRBm" / Twitter
https://twitter.com/i/status/1246169948239671298
Does anyone know more about this?
This video shows how high quality pieces from the first half of the 19th century were put together and how elaborate professional cleaning is:
How vibrant the jewels are, especially in the mix of materials and even when the silver is not at its brightest!
As it seems, the possible rhodium plating is not the first, shall we say, minor cheating on these jewels. Foiled stones were quite common, the sapphire setting with a blue enamelled background is new to me. I had assumed that the half-closed setting was to give the light an optimal reflection.
I will try to find an expert to check whether rhodium plating by electroplating is possible without damaging the sapphires.
But maybe we find some expert here who had about rhodium plating or had heard about it in connection jewellery?
I have been pondering on this question for days now Juscha and I have come to the conclusion that you are correct: that the jewels have been rhodium plated.
In the catalogue it notes that the jewels are made of gold; there is no mention of silver. That could be a mistake however, as in the description of the large emerald brooch which was sold, the catalogue also says it is made of gold; yet, the photos clearly show that the diamonds have been set in silver.
One of the things which surprised me was to see a white metal setting around the sapphires, as my understanding is that coloured stones like emeralds and sapphires were set in yellow gold at the time.
For example as in the tiara of the Duchess of Angouleme.
I was perplexed by images of the back of the tiara until I read the report, which states that the colour of the sapphires has been influenced by blue enamel in the setting.
For that comment see the report in image 5 of this entry https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-early-19th-century-important-sapphire-and-diamond-6315872/?from=salesummary&intObjectID=6315872&lid=1
It must be that the stones are partially resting on blue enamel. See image 2 https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-early-19th-century-important-sapphire-and-diamond-6315872/?from=salesummary&intObjectID=6315872&lid=1
What do others think?
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