Victorian onyx, seed pearl cross mourning earrings

Victorian mourning jewelry is always popular with collectors. To find a matched set of earrings still together after 150 years is always a small miracle. Having an 18x14mm black onyx cabochon in a bezel setting with a buckle motif frame. On each cabochon is a cross center piece that is studded with seed pearls. These crosses were hand set by drilled holes in the cabochons are set oriented at a tilt to varying degrees. At first this was assumed to be careless work in the drill holes of the crosses but upon further research it was found to be a very interesting bit of symbolism.