Description
An impressive necklace, highlighting how well apple green chrysoprase (stained agate) works when set in silver in these fabulous Arts and Crafts pieces. It is superbly hand-crafted and shows a lot of Sibyl Dunlop touches, all be it an earlyish piece, 1920s I would estimate). Every piece of detailing here has been hand-crafted and if you flip this lovely necklace over, you can immediately see the superlative way it has been created. It is an impressive piece with much in the way of decoration and must have taken a huge amount of hours to create. I have flipped between attributing this to either Sibyl or to Omar Ramsden but have come down in Sibyl’s corner. It feels like her pieces…the way the stones are organised and the small touches in the silver work.
The highly stylised leaves have been created by and applied by hand to the structure of the main plaque of the pendant, as well as to the separate top section of the pendant above it. In fact, that section has a look of wings from the leaves. The central domed cabochon of chrysoprase has been set in a “nipped” setting, which is beautiful. Those 6 teardrop-shaped cabs set around that central stone are, again, a very typical Sibyl design motif. I also love the thick rope work setting at the foot of the central stone.
From that top part of the pendant, the chains lead up to a small chrysoprase-set spacer on each side. The chain is the original with each figure-of-eight link having a tiny silver ball on each side of the central point. The original toggle fastener remains too, which is lovely.
All in immaculate condition and a joy to gaze at and to hold. Those stones have been fantastically-cut, which was also a feature of the best silversmiths’ work. These chrysoprase cabochons are wonderfully vibrant too. The pendant section from the “winged” plaque is approx 6.6cm in height. The round, central plaque has a diameter of approx 4.4cm. The wearable length of the necklace is approx 50cm (19.75 inches).
I shall send by courier internationally or Special Delivery within the UK, in a new gift box to keep her safe. Thank you.
Ref:civ
