Precious Pendant with Aquamarine & Diamonds in Silver on Gold, Russia, c. 1910

Splendour of the Russian Court

Precious Pendant with Aquamarine & Diamonds in Silver on Gold, Russia, c. 1910

€ 6,980.00 ^*

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!

When the sun didn't quite set at night in St. Petersburg in summer and a light twilight still played around the golden towers of the city on the Neva at midnight, the aristocracy of the old tsarist empire celebrated itself. Grand balls in the noble palaces, receptions, soirées, opera performances - the ladies of society, dressed in grand gowns and adorned with the most beautiful diamonds, danced until the morning. Even today, the Crimean champagne still flows in great waves on those "White Nights". This exceptionally fine pendant may have been worn on those nights. The centerpiece of the composition is an aquamarine in the shape of a heart. It is framed by a wreath of sparkling diamond roses. A bezel-set diamond connects the heart with a diamond-set bow, in the middle of which sits another large old-cut diamond. A wreath of delicate leaves and small forget-me-not blossoms, finely pavé-set, frames the composition like a sparkling garland. Unusually, the loop and chain do not start directly above the bow, but a crowned double-headed eagle under the Russian tsarist crown is inserted between the simple loop and the elaborate composition of heart, bow and wreath motif. It clearly locates the piece of jewellery in Russia and points to a courtly context. The eagle is also set with small diamonds. All elements are also connected to each other in a flexible way, which gives the pendant a gentle, flowing play and makes it comfortable to wear. The design language and workmanship date the piece of jewellery to c. 1910, i.e. the period before the October Revolution. In fact, some of Carl Fabergé's works, among others, show striking parallels to this piece in terms of structure, style and motifs. The artful combination of diamond garlands, naturalistic flowers and delicately colored gemstones is characteristic of the jewelry designs of his house in the late Tsarist era. Unfortunately, the piece of jewellery is not signed, but the pendant bears a finely engraved inventory number. We discovered this fine piece of jewellery here in Berlin. A later white gold chain makes it wearable. For the dating of the piece, see, among others, Géza von Habsburg: Fabergé, Cartier - Rivalen am Zarenhof, Munich 2004, p. 280 ff.

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The years around 1900 brought a formal language to the world of jewellery with the so-called "Garland Style", which contrasted Art Nouveau with a more classic, refined style. Echoes of Louis XVI forms and fine motifs from classical antiquity enlivened a neoclassicism that valued small, delicate laurel tendrils as much as meticulous festoons and embellishments with tiny milgrains. The pieces of jewellery in this style were made by goldsmiths in Paris, London and Vienna in precious materials, richly set with diamonds, set in silver or platinum. The result was a crystalline, cool and particularly elegant impression: these special jewels in white radiate an unearthly seductiveness, a little otherworldly and therefore particularly luxurious. With the onset of modernism, the designs then became more abstract and dynamic and the formal world of Art Deco prevailed.

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Size & Details

Splendour of the Russian Court

€ 6,980.00 ^*

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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Splendour of the Russian Court

Pendants

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