Antique Victorian Paste Rivière, ca 1850

By the mid-Victorian era, paste jewelry continued to be as popular as it was in the Georgian period. This green paste rivière builds on the ingenuity of the 18th century; beautifully cut stones set in closed silver settings, proving that the enduring affection for a river of stones around one’s neck was here to stay. Perhaps the stones are meant to mimic Columbian emeralds, or peridot, but to us, they radiate a unique color that could only come from period paste and foils. This was jewelry for the rising middle class—all the aesthetics of emeralds without the aristocratic price tag. Today, collectors prize these on their own merit. The color is undeniable, the craftsmanship is real, and the sparkle is just as good as it was in 1850. England, ca 1850