Antique Necklace Made of Mediterranean Coral with a Gold Fides Clasp, Circa 1890

Reach Out Your Hand to Me on the Seashore

Antique Necklace Made of Mediterranean Coral with a Gold Fides Clasp, Circa 1890

€ 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!

This long necklace is made of hand-polished Mediterranean coral beads, which are arranged in a gentle graduated pattern and become slightly thicker toward the center. Each of the slightly flattened beads displays a uniform, warm salmon hue, typical of so-called Sciacca corals, which were recovered off the southern coast of Sicily beginning in the 1870s. Unlike freshly harvested Mediterranean coral, Sciacca coral does not come from living colonies but from very old coral reefs that have naturally died and accumulated on the seabed over many centuries. A characteristic feature is its play of colours, ranging from delicate shades of salmon and peach to vibrant orange—distinguishing it from the deep red of freshly harvested coral. The discovery of these deposits sparked a veritable coral craze in the late 19th century and led to immense production of coral jewelry, particularly in the workshops of the port city of Torre del Greco in the Bay of Naples. By the early 20th century, however, the Sciacca coral deposits had been completely depleted, so that today it can only be found in antique pieces of jewellery. Particularly beautiful is the original 14-karat gold clasp that securely fastens the approximately 91 cm long necklace around the neck. It features two interlocked hands—a motif that has run through the history of jewellery for millennia. This is known as “mani in fede” (roughly: “hands in trust”). Pieces of jewellery featuring this motif have been a symbol of love and sincere friendship since classical antiquity. Several examples of such pieces featuring the hand motif have been preserved in major museums of decorative arts. The Victoria & Albert Museum in London, for instance, houses a remarkable collection that is definitely worth seeing if you have the chance! We date this necklace to the last decade of the 19th century.

Size & Details

Reach Out Your Hand to Me on the Seashore

€ 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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