Antique, Double-Strand Necklace Made of Sciacca Coral, c. 1900

This antique necklace, designed to be worn close to the neck, is made of hand-cut Mediterranean coral arranged in two elegantly graduated rows. Each of the slightly flattened beads displays a uniform, warm salmon hue, typical of so-called Sciacca corals, which were harvested off the southern coast of Sicily beginning in the 1870s. Unlike freshly harvested Mediterranean coral, Sciacca coral does not come from living colonies but from ancient coral reefs that have accumulated on the seabed over many centuries. A characteristic feature is its play of colours, ranging from delicate shades of salmon and peach to vibrant orange—a distinct contrast to the deep red of freshly harvested coral. The discovery of these deposits sparked a veritable coral craze in the late 19th century and led to immense production of coral jewelry, particularly in the workshops of the port city of Torre del Greco in the Bay of Naples. By the early 20th century, however, the Sciacca coral deposits had been completely depleted, so that today it can only be found in antique pieces of jewellery. The two strands are held together by the original clasp, which is set into a coral bead. This piece of jewellery, created around 1890, came to us from the Rhineland.

Estimate:£491.76

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