-Italian 1850 Renaissance Revival Pendant Carved In Coral Mount In 14Kt Yellow Gold
An Italian renaissance revival pendant in coral.
Magnificent antique pendant, made up with several pieces carved from natural Italian red coral from the Mediterranean sea. This rare piece has been created most probably in Napoles around the 1850. The intricate carvings are mounted from the back with discrete wires crafted in yellow gold of 14 karats and it is fitted with two rings to slide on, in a thin delicate chain. The workmanship and multiple carvings on this piece are magnificent and extremely detailed. They show the portrait of the flora muse adorned with fruits, vines, flowers and leaves. She, in turn, is flanked by two plump cherubs dressed only in ribbons, who represent the Greek-Roman god of wine, Bacchus. They are holding multiple bunches of grapes. Below this composition hang three ornately carved bunches of grapes.
Italian Renaissance Revival jewelry
The Italian renaissance revival jewelry took its inspiration from a variety of sources in the 19th century, including from Renaissance pieces that survived and those that were preserved in jewelry design books. Is a term for a myriad of different periods and styles, archeological revival jewelry is essentially jewelry that was recreated in the style of ancient jewelry, modelled on pieces that were unearthed in archaeological excavations, pictured in old paintings from the renaissance period of the 16th century or simple pieces preserved in the collections of museums and wealthy families .
Neapolitan Coral
This kind of coral started to be fished extensively and worked in Torre del Greco, in the year 1400, at the time when Livorno held the monopoly on the raw coral. Besides its apotropaic virtues, people started to associate coral to the marvelous capacity of the material to be processed and to the great skills of the artisans, comparable to that of an alchemist or demiurge. Thanks to the Bourbons, in 1715 the town of Torre del Greco became one of the most important centers in the processing and carving of coral. The king supported the development of craftsmanship by reducing the tax on imported raw coral, though he couldn’t start a factory in the town because of the boom of the French Revolution and of the eruption of Vesuvius in 1794. Ferdinando IV of Bourbon founded the first factory for the manufacturing of coral in Torre del Greco.
At the time, the production of sacred objects was replaced by the creation of ornaments and everyday objects, like combs, clips and paper knives to satisfy the requests of emerging bourgeoisie. Fishermen of Torre del Greco risked going up to the African coasts, winning over other competitor towns and thus turning Torre del Greco into the main center in Italy for coral processing.
Giovanni Della Rocca, member of Parliament, obtained a decree in 1876 which established the School of Coral engraving and Industrial artistic design in Torre del Greco. The town thus became one of the world leading centers in the processing of coral and shells, devoted to the education and training of young people in the art of engraving. Indeed, the coral School in Naples is still the leader in the most modern methods of processing cameos and coral, above all in the mentioned area of Torre del Greco.
Birthstone: Corals for the month of April.
Weight: 14.50 Grams, (9.29 Dwt).
Measurements: 38 mm by 51 mm (1.51 x 2.0 Inches).
Hallmarks: No marks, tested for 14 karats .585/.999
Collateral: It is accompanied by a presentation jewelry box.
Condition: The overall condition of this piece is excellent. Beside the little normal wear, there is no damage to the gold. All coral carvings are secured in the settings. This piece has been carefully inspected to guarantee the condition and authenticity.
INVENTORY REF: P082323RSNJ/.3486
