Magnificent Cleopatra necklace made of high-carat gold, Ulm circa 1965

The years after the Second World War are not considered the last great phase of Hollywood's "Golden Age" for nothing. The studios created ever more elaborate productions whose glamor extended far beyond the cinema screens and influenced people's everyday lives as much as their sense of fashion and jewellery. The glamor of the movie stars became the model for an entire era. This necklace is a testimony to this era. The type is also known as the "Cleopatra necklace" and experienced a peak in popularity after the release of the monumental film of the same name starring Elizabeth Taylor in 1963, as it featured comparable jewellery. This refers to fringed gold necklaces that drape over the décolleté like a fan-shaped collar. In this piece, the fringes are made from gold loops with a matte finish on the front, which run from longer elements in the center to shorter ones in the area of the clasp. They are attached to a strong, braided gold chain so that the necklace looks like a soft, shimmering band of gold when worn. It is particularly pleasant that the necklace lies gently and smoothly on the skin despite the solid elements. The light refracts on the differently finished surfaces of the gold and creates an effective interplay, without any gemstones. The necklace is in excellent condition - a wonderful example of a midcentury piece of jewellery from the Merath goldsmiths in Ulm that still exudes the magic of its time.

Estimate:£12,724.46

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