A splendid example of late-imperial jewelry, this necklace bears an Austro-Hungarian hallmark and stands out for its transformable structure: the sumptuously decorated central element can be disassembled and worn as a devant de corsage, according to a typical use of parade jewels from the second half of the 19th century, or, thanks to the rear loops, as a central pendant on a chain or ribbon, making it relevant even today.
The setting, made of thickly gilded silver (vermeil) with elegant filigree and openwork, is embellished with approximately 70 carats of excellent quality Bohemian garnets, combined with 1 carat of small quadrangular-cut emeralds and 18 natural half pearls. The chromatic harmony between the intense reds, the lively greens, and the pearly reflections of the pearls underlines the preciousness of the whole.
Intended for court receptions and grand balls of the Austro-Hungarian aristocracy, this necklace represents an authentic status jewel, in which vermeil was not used as a simple substitute for gold, but as a conscious aesthetic choice, capable of combining monumentality, luminosity, and decorative refinement.
Clearly legible Austro-Hungarian hallmark
Necklace length approx. 42.5 cm
Central element approx. 9.5 × 5.5 cm
Materials: antique vermeil; natural Bohemian pyropes (approx. 70 ct); natural emeralds (approx. 1 ct); 18 natural half pearls.
