The earrings are formed as egg or teardrop-shaped drops with a body constructed from articulated 18-karat yellow gold framework in a dragon egg or artichoke-leaf pattern. Each scale section is filled with deep vermillion-to-burgundy guilloche enamel, the translucent enamel revealing the underlying pattern and giving the surface a luminous depth of color. When you take a closer look at the enamel, you realize the true detail and craftsmanship. Within the red, there are little black rain drops, adding a layer of texture and detail that give it its scales to become a dragon egg. The backs are fitted with omega clips. The reverse is hand engraved: TIFFANY & CO, 18K and Italy.
The guilloche enamel technique, applied over an engine-turned metal substrate to produce a wave beneath the translucent enamel layer, has a long tradition in fine jewelry and was employed by Tiffany & Co. across multiple periods of production. The artichoke framework motif and the richness of the enamel execution are consistent with the house's high-craft decorative work of the early-to-mid 20th century.
