Description
An outstandingly rare find nowadays- a pristine, statement, signed plique-a-jour festoon necklace signed with the maker’s mark of Hermann & Speck of Pforzheim, Germany. This is an impressive piece of work by the company c1902 and is absolutely worthy of its place in any museum. I have not seen this winged plique festoon design before and I have to say it is a truly beautiful thing. If you are a serious collector of Jugendstil, then this piece must surely sing to you!
The design is fabulous, with three sets of plique wings, with an ombre of pink to blue, which looks amazing against the gilt finish to the silverwork. Every section of the wings has been carefully outlined in a gold finish and filled with enamel. The amount of quality work that has gone into the creation of this rare necklace is evident for all to see. It is a fairly complex design, with the three sets of wings held at a central point by a turquoise, suspending a winged pearl beneath it. There are two natural pearl spacers and two bezel set turquoise spacers on the main chain too.
Two vertical chains are suspended which culminate in those incredibly detailed oval drops-each having the pink to ombre in the plique-a-jour and each set with a tiny creamy seed pearl. A third oval drop in the centre is set as the longest drop so there is such a sense of balance in the overall look of the piece. In excellent condition, as already mentioned, with no damage to the plique, stones or metalwork. There has been a catch replacement at some point in her history.
The approx length of the central drop section is 5.6cmThe wearable length of the chain is approx 42.5cm (approx 16.75 inches). Clearly stamped with the Hermann & Speck maker’s mark to the verso. A little patina on the chains so would polish further if you so desire.
I shall send this exceptional piece by express courier in a new necklace presentation box (not the box in the images) or else by Royal Mail’s special delivery within the UK. Thank you.
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