-Italy Napoles Fluted Red Coral Cross In 14Kt Yellow Gold With Four Diamonds

Neapolitan coral cross pendant.

Beautiful and colorful contemporary piece, crafted in the portuary city of Napoles, Italy in solid yellow gold of 14 karats with high polished finish. Fitted on top with a movable link to display in a chain or necklace.

Diamonds: Bezel set with four round brilliant cut diamonds, 0.10 carats, G/H color, VS/SI clarity.

Gemstones: Mount with four pieces carved with fluted patterns from natural Italian red ox-blood coral. The coral is from the Sardinian southern area.

Weight: 10.72 Grams, (6.87 Dwt).

Measurements: 35 mm by 60 mm (1.38 x 2.36 Inches).

Hallmarks: Stamped with the maker's mark and the Italian gold assay marks, ".585 14kt".

Note: The corals are magnificent ox-blood, 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 cross is excellent. Beside the little normal wear, there is no damage to the gold. All gemstones are secured in the settings. This piece has been carefully inspected to guarantee the condition and authenticity.

INVENTORY REF: P091622MIRF/.2009