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Precious Necklace with Australian Opals & Diamonds in Silver on Gold, c. 1895

€ 5,790.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Precious Necklace with Australian Opals & Diamonds in Silver on Gold, c. 1895

Description

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

Iridescent opals from distant Australia first reached Europe on a large scale in 1889. However, instead of being delighted by the unusual colors, many customers initially reacted rather reservedly. In fact, opals had long been considered to bring bad luck! As late as 1905, The Post Express from Richmond, USA was not entirely sure whether opals should be worn at weddings, "in view of the bad omens connected with them", see here. The fact that ladies succumbed to the magic of stones that shone in all the colors of the rainbow was also largely thanks to avant-garde jewelry designers such as Vever and Lalique. They had recognized the potential of these dazzling gems for their jewelry and used opals from day one. Slowly, other manufacturers and designers followed suit. This necklace is a beautiful example of such a jewel from the early days of Australian opals in Europe. A large pendant made of silver on gold is attached to a delicate chain. It consists of two parts. The first, transverse part presents a large opal cut into an oval cabochon in a frame of sparkling diamond roses. The stone shines in vibrant green and blue against a slightly milky background. Here and there, shades of yellow and red are also mixed into the light, which runs through the stone in bold lines from the bottom left to the top right. Two old-cut diamonds shine below the opal. They are connected to a second opal, which has now been cut as a drop and is also framed by diamonds, both at the top and at the bottom. This opal is also of very good quality, although there are even more of the attractive red color zones here. The pendant is executed in a typical 19th century technique, in "silver on gold". The gemstones are set in silver settings to enhance the brilliance of the white diamonds. At a time when white gold and platinum were not yet available, this was the usual procedure. The back of the piece, on the other hand, is made of gold to prevent it from rubbing off on clothing and skin. The piece of jewellery is in very good condition. It was probably originally created as a brooch; the chain was added at a later date so that it could be worn as a necklace. An independent expert opinion on the quality of the materials is enclosed with the necklace. We discovered it in Hamburg.

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Why opals were considered to bring bad luck can no longer be fully reconstructed today. In his The Curious Lore of Precious Stones (London 1913, p. 143f.), George Frederick Kunz blames this on an episode from Sir Walter Scott's 1829 novel Anne of Geierstein, or The Maiden of the Mist. In the novel, the mysterious, enchanted Princess Hermione draws her power from a dazzling opal in her hair. When Hermione is angry, the opal glows red; when she is happy, the stone sparkles. However, when a drop of holy water touches the opal during a christening, it loses its colors and Hermione dies only a short time later.

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Size & Details

Colour Frenzy

€ 5,790.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

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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.

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