Antique Balkan Filigree Button Earrings

A rare old pair of earrings from the Balkan region. The earrings are made of antique components. The pendants are old filigree buttons used in Croatia, Serbia or Bosnia in by gone days. These buttons would have decorated either side of a man's vest. The only reference I could find for this is in Belgrade's Ethnographic Museum.

The top part of the earring is plate with two red glass cabochons. It may have come from another ornament in the same locale. Ear wires made of silver wire were later soldered on to transform it into a pair of earrings. The elements do not test as silver, they may be very low silver or bronze with a silver gilt. The two earrings have different colors, one is more silver tone, the other has a faint gold tone to it, probably the traces of an old gold gilt  Very pretty earrings in good vintage condition.

• Length: 7.5 cm or 3 inch 
• Width: 1.8 cm  or 5/8 inch 
• Weight is 22 g