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Antique Bracelet With Salmon-Colored Coral Set in Silver, c. 1890

€ 590.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Antique Bracelet With Salmon-Colored Coral Set in Silver, c. 1890

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 great journey to Italy with its art treasures was long the quintessence of classical education. At the turn of the 20th century, ever larger sections of society could afford to travel to the beautiful south. And, of course, souvenirs had to be brought home from this stay. From Naples, these were mainly corals and cameos carved into shells, for the production of which this region has always been famous. This bracelet takes us back to such a summer over 100 years ago: Because corals have always been summer jewelry, or a reminder of one. The bracelet combines salmon-colored boutons made of Mediterranean coral to form a flower motif that adorns the top of the piece of jewelry. This characteristic color was created by an undersea volcanic eruption in 1831, which caused the death of numerous corals in the Mediterranean. In 1875, these corals, which had faded to a delicate salmon color by then, were discovered and turned into jewellery for only a few decades. As a result, we have many pieces of jewelry from the late 19th century with pastel-colored coral trimmings, the color of which also confirms their early origin. The corals are set in silver. A secure box lock and a safety chain prevent loss - so it can be worn without worry. A perfect piece of jewelry for anyone who dreams of Italian summers all year round - a true vacation hoop!

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In July 1831, an undersea volcano erupted off the coast of Sciacca on the south coast of Sicily. Fishermen observed the explosions and were astonished to discover that the volcano had formed a new island. As soon as the eruptions ceased, a fierce dispute broke out over 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 laid claim to the new territory, which was strategically located on important shipping routes, and named it Graham Island. The French fleet also claimed the island, which they 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. But what does this have to do with corals? The repeated undersea volcanic eruptions and numerous earthquakes had killed off large quantities of coral, which formed one of the richest deposits in the entire Mediterranean. These subfossil corals had taken on a salmon-colored hue through storage in the water, which made them unmistakable. This treasure of the sea was discovered in 1875 when Bettu Ammareddu, the captain of a trawler, was fishing on the shoal that was once the island. According to legend, his necklace, which he had received as a gift from his sweetheart, fell into the water. When he dived for the necklace, he discovered that the seabed was covered in coral. Coral mining soon began, but just as quickly, by 1915, the deposits were completely exhausted.

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Size & Details

Ready for Vacation

€ 590.00 ^*

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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