Crossed Key Earrings Appraisal

Vintage Crossed Key Screw-Back Earrings with Red and Blue Cabochons

This pair of vintage screw-back costume earrings features a motif of two crossed skeleton-style keys. The earrings are constructed from a silver-toned base metal, possibly pot metal or silver-plated brass, showcasing a significant amount of aged patina and oxidation consistent with mid-20th-century costume jewelry (circa 1940s-1950s). Each earring is accented with two sugarloaf or round cabochon glass 'jewels'—one in a translucent ruby red and the other in a deep cobalt blue—set into the circular bows of the keys. The metalwork includes detailed bit-and-barrel designs on the keys, giving them a three-dimensional heraldic appearance. The findings are traditional screw-back mechanisms, which were common before pierced-ear styles regained popularity. Condition-wise, the silver plating shows moderate wear, particularly on the raised edges and the screw mechanisms, where the darker base metal is visible. There are no visible maker's marks, suggesting they may be the work of a mid-market costume jewelry manufacturer from the post-WWII era. The glass stones appear intact with no major chips, though the metal settings show some accumulation of surface grime and verdigris.