J.E. Caldwell Moonstone and Ruby Suite

This moonstone and ruby and tri-color gold suite of earrings and brooch by J.E. Caldwell of Philadelphia was made in the 1940s. The brooch is designed as the romantic pair of commedia dell'arte sweethearts with ruby heads wearing rose, white and yellow gold costumes, sitting holding hands on a moonstone crescent moon, one earring with Pierrot, and the other with Columbine. Witty and original, this suite references both moonstruck love and the fun of the carnival.

Materials: 40 cabochon moonstones (measuring approximately 6.90 to 1.40 mm); 4 ruby beads (approximate total weight 1.20 carats); 14K rose, yellow and white gold
Gram Weight: 25.96
Signed: J.E.C. & Co., V3075 and V3076

In French theater, the cynical and fun commedia dell'arte figure of Pedrolino evolved from the comical and cunning servant figure of the Italian carnival into the gentle, lovestruck idealist of pantomime. Since then he has figured prominently in modernist painting, sculpture, and music, capturing the imagination of artists from Picasso to Huysman to Schönberg, and acquiring a rich and varied range of personae in many cultures.