-Italian 1960 Four Strands Graduated Coral Necklace Mount In 18Kt Yellow Gold
Four strands graduated Coral necklace.
Gorgeous colorful necklace created in the coastal city of Napoles Italy back in the 1960. This fabulous necklace is mount in a 18 karats yellow gold settings with graduated carved beads of natural Neapolitan coral with a total weight of 416 carats. Fitted with an oval push boxed lock with a hinged safety figure 8 for extra safety.
Coral: The lock is mount in a bezel setting, with 1 oval cabochon cut (20 x 12 x 6mm) of natural coral with 6.88 carats.
Other Corals: Mount with four graduated strands comprising of 284 coral polished beads with a weight of 409 carats.
Birthstone: For the month of October.
Weight: 102.3 Grams, (65.58 Dwt).
Size: Fit a neck up to 16 Inches (40.5 Cm) with cascade effect.
Measurements: The 284 beads are divided in four strands graduated from 5 mm to 10 mm.
Hallmarks Stamped with the maker's mark and the mark for the assay of the gold, "18kt .750".
Note: The corals are magnificent, matched in size, color, saturation and with even unspotted surfaces. Red coral, or Corallium rubrum, is a branch-forming coral species found in the Mediterranean Sea and is the most valuable of all precious corals. Lakshmi coral, also known as triangular coral, is the best shape of coral stone. This triangular red coral gem is believed to be ruled by Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth.
Neapolitan 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.
Collateral: It is accompanied by a presentation jewelry box.
Condition: The overall condition of this necklace is excellent. Beside the little normal wear, there is no damage to the gold. The corals are secured in the settings. This piece has been carefully inspected to guarantee the condition and the authenticity.
INVENTORY REF: N050423MNAS/2.459
