An Elegant Garland-Style Diamond Necklace in Platinum, c. 1905

Elegance and Esprit

An Elegant Garland-Style Diamond Necklace in Platinum, c. 1905

€ 23,890.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Description

This description was automatically translated from German. If you have any questions about this piece of jewellery, we will be happy to help!

The early years of the 20th century marked the height of the Belle Époque, the “beautiful era.” The upper classes had been reveling in great wealth for several decades, and more jewellery was produced during this period than ever before. This jewellery was an expression of good taste as well as social status. In the evenings, people wore diamonds to the opera, to a grand dinner, or to a ball. The preferred style for fine evening jewellery was the Garland Style, with its nods to the era of Marie Antoinette: bows, laurel leaves, and the eponymous garlands. When the first wearer of this piece of jewellery took it out to evening events, the piece of jewellery spoke of wealth, elegance—and the spirit of the times. She may have been dressed in a pastel-colored chiffon gown from House of Worth or Callot Soeurs—unless, after poring over fashion magazines, she had commissioned a dressmaker to create a design of her own. She may have chatted about the world premiere she had just seen of Richard Strauss’s new opera based on Oscar Wilde’s Salome, Thomas Mann’s latest novella, or the events of the past summer, which fortune-seekers and wealthy elites alike enjoyed spending in Monte Carlo on the Riviera. As dusk fell outside, her diamonds sparkled in the modern electric light: 230 in number, totaling about 6.00 ct. They are set close together in understated platinum settings and form the characteristic shapes of the Garland Style: flowing ribbons and garlands of leaves come together to create a composition of radiant light. The fact that it is crafted entirely in platinum makes it particularly luxurious, as the metal was significantly more expensive than gold and a novelty at the time. Like so many precious jewels of this era, this one can also be worn in various ways. The delicate chains, alternating with floral ornaments, can be removed and worn on their own: they can then be used individually as bracelets or together as a short, choker-length necklace. The necklace found its way to us from Cologne. It is in very good condition and, even after more than a century, is still in excellent condition for wearing.

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In the early years of the 20th century, European goldsmiths achieved a level of refinement in craftsmanship and design unlike anything seen before. Tastes had changed, and people had grown weary of the heavy forms of the 19th century. But technical capabilities had also advanced; new tools and machines made it possible to work with even greater finesse and precision. Platinum, for example, now made it possible to create delicate yet durable filigree and details unlike anything seen before. For all these reasons, the forms of jewelry also evolved. The designs from this period often resemble delicate lace, so fine and light are the details. Brooches, necklaces, earrings, and even rings consist of delicate nets, garlands, and blossoms, whose design language has become known in the English-speaking world as a distinct style known as the “Garland Style.”

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Size & Details

Elegance and Esprit

€ 23,890.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Our Promise

We want you to be 100% satisfied! For that reason, we examine, describe and photograph all of our jewellery with the utmost care.

You can rely on our years of experience in the trade and our expertise as a professional art historians for reviews of the antique jewellery. As a member of various trade organisations and the British Society of Jewellery Historians, we remain committed to the highest possible degree of accuracy. In our descriptions, we always also indicate any signs of age and defects and never hide them in our photos – this saves you from any unpleasant surprises when your package arrives.

Should you for some reason not be satisfied, please don’t hesitate to contact us so that we can find a solution together. In any case, you can return any article within one month and we will refund the full purchase price.

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