Daytime Splendour

Antique Double Strand Italian Coral Necklace, Italy, circa 1900

€ 890.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Antique Double Strand Italian Coral Necklace, 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!

For centuries, coral jewellery was not only decorative, but also associated with numerous legends. Mined from the depths of the Mediterranean Sea, this material always carried mysterious associations. It is said that coral originated from the blood of Medusa when Perseus cut off her head on the seashore: Her blood dripped onto seaweed and turned it into a red coral tree – just as her gaze had previously turned people into stone. For a long time reserved for the art chambers of princes, this gift of the sea also reached wide circles of the middle classes as the 19th century progressed. Coral, mined on the coasts of Italy, was considered a distinct summer ornament, exotic and colorful at the same time. Since it did not sparkle as festively as diamonds and was not as heavy as gold, its impression was lighter, more cheerful, and it became accepted as daytime jewellery. In the present necklace, which is worn close to the neck, we see particularly beautiful corals arranged in two strands. These are beads from around 1900 with the characteristic strong salmon tone that makes Italian coral so desirable. The strands are arranged in graduated fashion, meaning they get thicker towards the center. The necklace, which we have had re-strung, is held by an original reddish gold clasp. This is set with another coral and equipped with a safety chain. A magnificent piece of jewellery with a history all its own!

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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 after 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 remained only as a shoal. But what does this have to do with corals? The repeated submarine volcanic eruptions and numerous earthquakes had killed large quantities of corals, which formed one of the richest deposits of the entire Mediterranean. These subfossil corals had taken on a salmon hue due to storage in the water, which made them unmistakable. This treasure of the sea was discovered in 1875 when Bettu Ammareddu, captain of a trawler, was fishing on the shoal that was once the island. While doing so, his necklace, which he had received as a gift from his beloved, fell into the water. When he dove for the necklace he found that the seabed was covered all over with coral. Soon mining of the coral began, but by 1915 the deposits were completely exhausted.

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Size & Details

Daytime Splendour

€ 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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