Necklace
20th century (made)
White metal filligree symmetrical necklace set with paste 'diamonds'. The necklace comprises a substantial central filigree white metal shield-shaped trefoil set in the centre with a large square-cut paste 'diamond', with 2 smaller circular paste 'diamonds' - one above it and one below. This is surrounded by an oval of 18 paste 'diamonds', and set around the edges of the trefoil are also 7 circular paste 'diamonds', although originally there would have been 8. One pendant square cut 'diamond' hangs from the lowest point of the central trefoil. On either side of the central trefoil there are links attaching it to a rectangualar white metal filligree shape, each set with a central square cut 'diamond'; surrounded by 14 round-cut paste 'diamonds' in a rectangular shape. Each of the four corners of the filigree settings have a circular-cut paste 'diamond'. Attached to lower links joining the central trefoil to the rectangular shapes on either sides, is 1 circular white metal 'flower' set with a central paste 'diamond', from which hangs a square cut pendant paste 'diamond'. To the right and left of the rectangular filigree settings are more links attaching a smaller oval white metal setting set with 1 square-cut paste 'diamond', in turn attached to a plain-set paste 'diamond' without a filigree surround. From this, on either side is a row of paste 'diamonds', originally 20 on the left side (as worn), and 20 on the right side (as worn).
Object details
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | |
| Brief description | White metal and paste 'diamond' necklace, part of a parure worn by Kyra Vayne (1916-2001) in the title role of the opera Tosca |
| Physical description | White metal filligree symmetrical necklace set with paste 'diamonds'. The necklace comprises a substantial central filigree white metal shield-shaped trefoil set in the centre with a large square-cut paste 'diamond', with 2 smaller circular paste 'diamonds' - one above it and one below. This is surrounded by an oval of 18 paste 'diamonds', and set around the edges of the trefoil are also 7 circular paste 'diamonds', although originally there would have been 8. One pendant square cut 'diamond' hangs from the lowest point of the central trefoil. On either side of the central trefoil there are links attaching it to a rectangualar white metal filligree shape, each set with a central square cut 'diamond'; surrounded by 14 round-cut paste 'diamonds' in a rectangular shape. Each of the four corners of the filigree settings have a circular-cut paste 'diamond'. Attached to lower links joining the central trefoil to the rectangular shapes on either sides, is 1 circular white metal 'flower' set with a central paste 'diamond', from which hangs a square cut pendant paste 'diamond'. To the right and left of the rectangular filigree settings are more links attaching a smaller oval white metal setting set with 1 square-cut paste 'diamond', in turn attached to a plain-set paste 'diamond' without a filigree surround. From this, on either side is a row of paste 'diamonds', originally 20 on the left side (as worn), and 20 on the right side (as worn). |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Mr. Richard Samuel |
| Object history | This necklace is part of a parure of jewellery worn by Kyra Vayne as Floria Tosca in the title role of the opera Tosca which she first sang in September 1952 to the Scarpia of Tito Gobbi, with the Italian Opera Company at the Stoll Theatre, London, and on tour. The parure, comprising a tiara, necklace, bracelet and earrings, together with a Tosca ring given to Kyra Vayne by Mary Garden, was sold to the Royal Opera House for £35 ca.1960 when Kyra Vayne retired from the stage but returned to her in the late1990s when she was keen to have it back: 'I thought it might go in the museum but years later I began to think about what I had given away. I am delighted the set has been found because it is very beautiful and of historical importance.' [Kyra Vayne, reported by Jane Hughes in the article 'Opera diva gets back her jewels', The Independent, 31/10/1999]. After her death the jewellery passed to her Executor Mr. Richard Samuel who presented it to the museum. |
| Association | |
| Bibliographic reference | 'God's Gift'. 'The Singer', p. 13, April/May 1997.
'A Day in the Life of Kyra Vayne' Sunday Times magazine 1998
'Kyra Vayne' Obituary in 'The Independent' 15 January 2001
'Opera diva gets back her jewels' The Independent 31 October 1999
'Kyra Vayne' Obituary in 'The Times' 15 January 2001
'Kyra Vayne' Obituary in 'The Telegraph' 15 January 2001 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.294-2001 |
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| Record created | April 11, 2001 |
| Record URL |
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