Victorian Garnet Cabochon Fringe Necklace in Gold, c. 1870

Five drop-shaped garnets glow in the deep, glowing red of luxurious wine. They are set closed over reflective gold foils, and the interplay with the curved surface of their cabochon cuts creates a rich, fascinating color effect: with every movement, it appears as if red lights are gliding across the surface of the gemstones. A diamond in a star-shaped setting is also set in the center of each cabochon. The garnets are held by gold settings that are set with twisted gold cords at the sides. They are mounted like garlands on a thick, particularly supple gold chain, which is also known as a "snake chain" due to its flexibility. An additional fine gold plating, the so-called "bloom finish", gives the gold a rich, velvety hue. The necklace is a typical British piece of jewellery in every respect, as it was worn in the 1860s and 1870s. Opulent necklaces with large gemstones in radiant gold settings, linked by "snake chains" to form festoons, were very fashionable at this time. They were worn by fashion-conscious women who, in keeping with the so-called "archaeological revival", presented themselves in opulent gold jewelry inspired by antiquity. Necklaces of this type can also be found in the Brogden Album, a British design book for jewellery created in the 19th century, see here. It is no coincidence that we were able to discover the necklace in London. Incidentally, a special secret is hidden on the back of the necklace. Each of the pendants has a glazed medallion compartment on the back: a mother may once have worn the locks of hair of each of her children over her heart. The most famous role model for this was Queen Victoria, who kept locks of her children's hair in a bracelet. The luxurious necklace is beautifully preserved: A magnificent example of jewellery from the Victorian era.

Estimate:£10,762.88

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