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Antique Double Row Necklace Of Mediterranean Coral, Italy Circa 1900

€ 1,390.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Antique Double Row Necklace Of Mediterranean Coral, Italy Circa 1900

Description

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

In July 1831, an undersea volcano erupted in front of the town of Sciacca, located on the southern coast of Sicily. Fishermen watched the explosions and were astonished to discover that the volcano had formed a new island. Immediately when the eruptions ended, a fierce dispute broke out as to which country the new island should belong to. The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies considered it a natural part of its territory and named it Ferninandea after its king, Ferdinand II. However, Great Britain also claimed the new land, strategically located on important shipping routes, and named it Graham Island. The French fleet also claimed the island, which it called Julia, and Spain also laid claim to it. The dispute was finally settled by nature: By 1832, the waves had eroded the island to such an extent that it sank into the sea and was only preserved as a shoal. The repeated submarine volcanic eruptions and numerous earthquakes had caused large quantities of coral to die, which subsequently formed one of the richest deposits in the entire Mediterranean. These subfossil corals had taken on a salmon hue due to storage in the water, making them unmistakable. This treasure of the sea was discovered in 1875, and soon the mining of the corals began, but by 1915 the deposits were completely exhausted. In this necklace we see these special corals arranged in two rows. They are beads from around 1900 with the characteristic salmon hue of the sciacca coral. The strands are arranged in graduated, that is, they become thicker towards the center, with the thickest sphere measuring almost nine millimeters in diameter. The necklace, which we have had re-strung, is held by its original clasp made of gold-plated tombac. A magnificent piece of jewellery with a history all its own! Figure: Outbreak of the Island of Ferdinandea by Camillo de Vito, detail, Guache, around 1831.

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Genuine Italian Mediterranean corals inspire to this day by their wonderfully rich play of colors with a pronounced wealth of variants. From the creamy white of the Adriatic coral to the delicate pink of the angel skin coral or Pelle d'Angelo to beautiful light and dark salmon red hues to the strong dark red color known as oxblood or Moro coral, this wonderful natural material is characterized by the most beautiful colors of nature that the sea can produce. For centuries an integral part of princely and later also bourgeois art chambers, coral jewelry, especially from the region around the Bay of Naples, enjoyed popularity never experienced before, especially in the 19th century. The stocks of some coral species, which are now under strict conservation, as well as the demand for natural corals, which has increased dramatically in recent years, make coral jewelry today more than ever a sought-after treasure. Experts speak today, concerning the value of Mediterranean corals already of the "diamond of the future". Today, only antique pieces or corals from old stock come onto the market - the quantity is therefore limited and finite. Thus, the value of corals can only increase!

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Size & Details

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€ 1,390.00 ^*

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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