Magpie
Necklace With Fitted Case
1988 (made)
1988 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
In Charlotte De Syllas’ masterpiece of hardstone carving the principal material is black nephrite jade, a mineral that she notes ‘will cut paper thin, does not chip or craze and can carve as fine as one likes’; the iridescent sheen of the bird’s plumage comes from a thin facing of labradorite, a rock with natural flashes of blue. Within each ‘feather’ tiny channels have been carved and silk cords with silver spacers connect these separate elements into flexible wings.
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Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 3 parts.
|
| Title | Magpie (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Necklace of black nephrite jade, white jadeite jade and labradorite, the carved elements held together and articulated with silver beads and silk kumihimo braid. The case is of ebony, lined with suede and dupion silk, with a thin ivory panel recording the names of those involved in the piece's creation. |
| Brief description | Magpie necklace of carved jade and labradorite, silver and braided silk, designed and made by Charlotte de Syllas, England 1988, with fitted case |
| Physical description | Two outstretched wings of iridescent and articulated 'feathers' carved from labradorite and black jade inset with white descend from a smooth, stylised magpie's head, its open beak holding one side of the braided silk necklace cord. The silk cord widens then narrows as it encircles the neck, the two sides coming together at a clasp of silver and black jade inlaid with two narrow stripes of white. The cords pass through the clasp, one supporting three connected and tapering panels of labradorite - the tail feathers of the bird - the other terminating with a white jade drop. The wooden rectangular case and lid have a ribbon tie of silk kumihimo braid in colours hand-dyed to echo the plumage of the bird. The interior is of suede and hand-stitched black silk dupion. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Necklace made and designed by Charlotte de Syllas
Silk braid made by Catherine Martin
Catch mechanics by Paul Nicol
Case made by Stephen Gottlieb
Silk lining by Lucy Goffin |
| Credit line | Bequeathed by Gulderen Tekvar |
| Summary | In Charlotte De Syllas’ masterpiece of hardstone carving the principal material is black nephrite jade, a mineral that she notes ‘will cut paper thin, does not chip or craze and can carve as fine as one likes’; the iridescent sheen of the bird’s plumage comes from a thin facing of labradorite, a rock with natural flashes of blue. Within each ‘feather’ tiny channels have been carved and silk cords with silver spacers connect these separate elements into flexible wings. |
| Associated object | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.29:1to3-2022 |
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| Record created | May 23, 2022 |
| Record URL |
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