Photos

Comments

• 

  Ethnic Embellishments June 12, 2014 at 4:49pm

  Excellent find Toya!
• 

  Alaa eddine SAGID June 12, 2014 at 6:30pm

  The stringing and the presence of a clasp is very typical of the work of local smiths recycling old elements to sell in the tourist market

  Very nice elements, too bad they have lost their enamel!

  Great find Toya!
• 

  Betty June 12, 2014 at 6:48pm

  I love the soft look of the coral, looking at the pic you really want to touch them! Lovely piece even if the stringing is not original...
• 

  Toya June 13, 2014 at 3:15am

  Thank you Betty and Alaa. I don't think there was ever any enamel on the cube beads because some sides are gold all over while others are missing the gold in patches.
• 

  Amber-Tiznit June 13, 2014 at 1:28pm

  beautiful
• 

  Thelma June 14, 2014 at 1:43pm

  Lucky Toya! I love the design of this necklace .. and the old beads and pendant.
• 

  Linda Pastorino June 17, 2014 at 5:24pm

  this is similar to a piece i owned and sold many years ago but can not find in my files.. Mine also had lapis besides Coral.
• 

  Toya June 17, 2014 at 5:42pm

  Thanks Linda, I am glad to know there is another one like it. I saw one other similar design on the internet. I wonder how old it is because the clasp and chain seem aged.
• 

  Linda Pastorino June 17, 2014 at 6:17pm

  mine was gilt silver and had specific shapes on the beads and inlay of fabric also behind open windows that indicated to  at least my eye me that it was early 17th c or before.   I found beads to be similar to things that were 13th 14th c and though i could not prove it , thought it could be so.  I was hit with allot of disagreement from Joost as he thought i was off in my calculation however when seeing it in person and then seeing other pieces of jewelry of early date for example in the British Museum and other places, i begged to differ. I also think many of these types of jewels did start early and had relatively little change in character as well.  The materials and how  they are crafted besides design is often the way to tell as well the shape of the beads and the patina etc. color of beads if of materials such as Lapis   and Coral. I also do not believe that only the highest level of populations wore or used jewels during the earlier periods as was the case further on, all levels of society adorned themselves and the materials used would be commensurate with their station in life. Many early pieces shown in books are gold but then there were lesser pieces made I'm sure for a variation of financial levels.  My feeling is that your piece is probably late 19th c but may have had several levels of re working and putting together during it's life. 
• 

  Toya June 17, 2014 at 6:51pm

  Linda- Thank you so much for this information. I hope to see your piece someday when you find the photograph. It sounds like a real treasure.