Old Fred Harvey Era Curio Shop Earrings

Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. These old Fred Harvey era curio shop earrings could be worn by an antiquarian-minded bride since they fit the English wedding rhyme.

We've already established that the sweet earrings are something old you would have found if you were traveling to the Southwest in the 1920's and stopped at a curio shop. The earrings are something new because they've been converted from the old (painful) screw back style of earrings that was used from the 1890's to the 1950's. Instead of the screw backs, a well-known Santa Fe artisan has created custom sterling silver ear wires for them. 

The earrings are something borrowed because, like many pieces of Fred Harvey era tourist jewelry, they're inspired by early Navajo and Pueblo turquoise jewelry designs. That's where something blue comes in - the earrings are obviously blue, but they're not actually authentic turquoise. This helped them to be affordable souvenirs found along the railroad shops and Harvey House curio counters. Back in the day, these earrings cost very little, however, today pretty earrings like these are collectible for their place in Southwest jewelry history.

They're lightweight and easy to wear dangles that measure 1 3/4" long from top of wire by 15/16" wide. For pierced ears.

• Authentic Fred Harvey curio shop earrings
• They were screw backs but converted to posts
• Circa 1920
• Composite "turquoise"
• Measure 1 3/4" long by 15/16" wide
• Sterling silver ear wires