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This is a sumptuous 1950s vintage necklace of peacock-coloured beads and crystals mixed with a variety of goldtone elements.
There are four strands altogether – two wire-linked featuring a softer mix of beads and crystals, and two cord strung with a bolder look provided by the peacock beads. The peacock beads have a grainy texture, similar to sugar beads but much finer. They are a frosty, irridescent mix of turquoise, purple and blue with each colour blending into the next around the bead. All the beads in the necklace appear to be plastic except for the open filigree ovals, which are metal, and the round aurora borealis crystals, which are glass. The rest of the crystals are plastic but are very glass like.
The strands are attached to heavy goldtone (possibly gilt brass) gathers with a sunray design. The necklace closes with a hook and wire-linked extender chain of smaller peacock beads. When worn, the strands lie quite close together providing a “big look”.
The matching earrings are clipbacks with a mix of beads wired over a filigree disk.
Dimensions
Including the hook and extender the neckace is 43 cm (17″) long, measured by the shortest strand. The earrings are just inder 1″ across.
Marks
No maker’s or other marks.
Condition
This vintage necklace is in excellent vintage condition. There is a very small amount of wear to the gilding on the oval filigree beads and strand gathers – all other gold elements are in virtually mint condition. Some of the beads have slightly less textured areas but this is the way they were made, not wear – all these areas are purple and adjacent elements are virtually mint. The earrings are also in very good vintage condition with very little wear to the goldtone and a strong spring in the clipbacks.
SOLD
