Exquisite finely cast Berlin Iron vine leaf necklace and earrings by Johann Conrad Geiss c.1820.
Necklace 18inches, earrings 1.75inches.
Earrings have later gold wires.
Iron jewellery symbolised patriotism  in Prussia against Napoleon in the early c19th originating at the Royal Ironworks at Gleiwitz in 1806.Reputedly in 1814 no less than forty thousand pieces of iron jewellery were made. Johann Geiss(1771-1846) was an important influence in Berlin Iron jewellery production designing some of the most memorable elements.This suite incorporates different sizes of the vine leaf he designed in 1820.The central panel contains acanthus and gothic motifs and the tiny tassel I have never seen before but tests for Iron too.