Necklace
1820-1867 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The production of coral jewellery was a major industry in the south of Italy from prehistoric times. Tourists loved to buy coral jewellery in fashionable shapes, but it was also very popular with Italian women, who valued it for its colour and amuletic qualities.
This necklace consists of 16 rows of barrel-shaped coral beads, gathered into two silver terminals with loops for ribbons. In the 19th century Italian women usually used silk ribbons to fasten their necklaces and pendants, but these ribbons were fragile and easily destroyed. The ones shown here are rare survivals, saved by the V&A's early interest in authenticity.
This necklace was bought as part of the Castellani collection of Italian Peasant Jewellery at the International Exhibition, Paris, 1867.
This necklace consists of 16 rows of barrel-shaped coral beads, gathered into two silver terminals with loops for ribbons. In the 19th century Italian women usually used silk ribbons to fasten their necklaces and pendants, but these ribbons were fragile and easily destroyed. The ones shown here are rare survivals, saved by the V&A's early interest in authenticity.
This necklace was bought as part of the Castellani collection of Italian Peasant Jewellery at the International Exhibition, Paris, 1867.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver with coral beads and silk ribbon |
| Brief description | Necklace of coral beads with silver terminals, Italy, 1820-1867. |
| Physical description | Necklace of 16 graduated rows of barrel-shaped coral beads attached to two pierced sheet silver terminals. The terminals each have a red silk ribbon attached. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | 'FF' in horizontal lozenge-shaped frame. (Mark of unidentified maker on each terminal.) |
| Summary | The production of coral jewellery was a major industry in the south of Italy from prehistoric times. Tourists loved to buy coral jewellery in fashionable shapes, but it was also very popular with Italian women, who valued it for its colour and amuletic qualities. This necklace consists of 16 rows of barrel-shaped coral beads, gathered into two silver terminals with loops for ribbons. In the 19th century Italian women usually used silk ribbons to fasten their necklaces and pendants, but these ribbons were fragile and easily destroyed. The ones shown here are rare survivals, saved by the V&A's early interest in authenticity. This necklace was bought as part of the Castellani collection of Italian Peasant Jewellery at the International Exhibition, Paris, 1867. |
| Bibliographic reference | 'Italian Jewellery as worn by the Peasants of Italy', Arundel Society, London, 1868, Plate 9 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 225-1868 |
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| Record created | February 8, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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