Foamborn

Antique Diamond Sea-Shell Pendant in Silver on Gold, c. 1885 & later

€ 4,790.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Antique Diamond Sea-Shell Pendant in Silver on Gold, c. 1885 & later

Description

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

Like roses and doves, so sea-shells and their pearls are attributes of Venus, the goddess of love: she is said to have been born from a shell, which is why she is called the ‘foam-born’. Sandro Botticelli also captured this scene on canvas. In his masterpiece, he depicted Simonetta Vespucci, the most beautiful woman in Florence, as the goddess of love, emerging from a seashell in a shower of flowers. This piece of jewellery is based on this idea and was created at a time when the knowledge of mythology and art history was taken for granted in the upper classes of society. A sculpturally designed shell opens up to the viewer. It shimmers in the light of a total of approx. 2.36 ct of diamonds that occupy every free space on the surface. The different brilliance of the rose and old-cut diamonds used intensifies the impression of perspective, so that the inner part of the shell recedes visually. Instead of a pearl, a diamond flower rises from the centre, the petals of which are reminiscent of the structure of a shell, making the puzzle perfect. The back of the piece of jewellery reveals that it was once a hairpin or pin. The shell was allowed to sparkle in the gaslight at the glittering balls, opera visits or gala evenings of the Belle Époque - because such pure diamond jewellery was only permitted at such events. In later times, when this tradition was lost along with the elaborate hairstyles of the time, the shell was transformed into a pendant. This apparently happened no earlier than the middle of the 20th century. Today, the small shell, firmly mounted, sparkles on a white gold chain in a matching colour. We discovered the pendant in the Rhineland.

Size & Details

Foamborn

€ 4,790.00 ^*

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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