Antique 18K Snake Earrings, Victorian Belle Epoque Sleeper Earrings, Napoleon III Serpent Dormeuse c. 1860 chatelaine_chain Opening from the top

Opening from the top

The spring ring is also functioning well with good tension and alignment

with no visible wear to the facets

In some medallions we see Minerva/Athena wearing a helmet upon which a winged chimera is perched

Antique 18K Snake Earrings, Victorian Belle Epoque Sleeper Earrings, Napoleon III Serpent Dormeuse c. 1860 chatelaine_chain Opening from the topThese unique, one of a kind snake earrings were crafted in the Napoleon III period, circa 1860. They feature two elegant snakes which coil around a gold frame. They close with an antique lever back system in which the earring threads through the back of the ear and attaches to a rivet in the front of the earring. This can take some getting used to at first but once the earrings are in place they hold securely. As you can see, they are large enough to