Necklace
1954-5 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
In the aftermath of the Second World War gemstones were prohibitively expensive and their trade rare. Gold jewellery therefore became fashionable and was in great demand.
To make the jewels more affordable the amount of precious metal was reduced by using wire, often corded in ornamental patterns. Pieces that appeared chunky were often hollow. The great jewellery houses of the time chose elaborate and playful designs.
As gemstones were scarce, they were applied to give just a hint of colour or as small-sized diamonds to create highlights.
To make the jewels more affordable the amount of precious metal was reduced by using wire, often corded in ornamental patterns. Pieces that appeared chunky were often hollow. The great jewellery houses of the time chose elaborate and playful designs.
As gemstones were scarce, they were applied to give just a hint of colour or as small-sized diamonds to create highlights.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Gold, flexible links in brickwork pattern |
| Brief description | Necklace, gold, flexible links in brickwork pattern, made by Excel Jewellery Ltd for Cartier, London, 1954-5 |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by the American Friends of the V&A through the generosity of Patricia Goldstein |
| Production | Made by Excel Jewellery for Cartier, London |
| Summary | In the aftermath of the Second World War gemstones were prohibitively expensive and their trade rare. Gold jewellery therefore became fashionable and was in great demand. To make the jewels more affordable the amount of precious metal was reduced by using wire, often corded in ornamental patterns. Pieces that appeared chunky were often hollow. The great jewellery houses of the time chose elaborate and playful designs. As gemstones were scarce, they were applied to give just a hint of colour or as small-sized diamonds to create highlights. |
| Other numbers |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.168-2007 |
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| Record created | February 28, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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