This beautiful Victorian Mediterranean red coral bead necklace is only 13-1/2" in total length so it will only fit a very small adult neck unless you use the necklace extender which we are including. The gold chain extender will add 3 inches to the length.
The necklace is composed of small round coral beads evenly strung along the length and it is a good weight for size. The red coral is natural and undyed, it is a beautiful pale salmon red colour with a tangerine orange hue. The beads still have a lovely waxy shine with scatterings of tiny mollusc holes and no single bead is identical as you would expect with real antique coral that is carved by hand.
The beads are strung on silk necklace cord and finished at each end with French wire protectors, the necklace fastens with a 9ct gold bolt ring.
Originally this antique necklace might have actually belonged to a child. During the 18th and 19th centuries coral was thought to protect children from evil forces. Petite coral necklaces like this lovely example were worn by babies and young girls becoming most fashionable with well-to-do families. The John Hoppner painting shown in our photos is of the English Duke of Dorset's children painted in 1796, the young Lady Mary Sackville is portrayed wearing a coral necklace just like this one!
A sweet dainty antique coral bead necklace, just lovely!
MATERIALS: 9ct gold
GEMSTONE: Mediterranean red coral, 67 beads carved in a slightly squat rounded shape roughly measuring 4.6 x 5.8mm (some beads may be ever so slightly smaller).
MEASUREMENTS: Necklace length 13-1/2" (34.5cm), extender 3" (7.5cm)
DATE: Victorian, circa 1850
WEIGHT: 15.2 grams
HALLMARKS: none
CONDITION: In very, very good antique condition with expected signs of age and light surface wear. We see no damage to any of the coral beads just growth lines and natural inclusions. The silk cord looks good with no fraying, there's a little aged tarnish to the French wired ends and the clasp is in good working order.
At Mercy Madge we offer antique and vintage jewellery that is special and each piece is hand selected by us for you. We rarely come across two identical old treasures, once they are gone, they are truly gone! All of our jewellery is sympathetically cleaned and polished and ready for you to wear and enjoy.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
SHIPPING - FREE SHIPPING worldwide, orders are despatched next business day and sent tracked and insured.
RETURNS - you can return your item for a full refund for any reason. Just get in touch within 3 days of receiving your order if you wish to do so.
DISCOUNT? - find special discount and no sales tax on our website at www.mercymadge.com
BUYING A GIFT? - all items will arrive gift wrapped in a Mercy Madge custom jewellery box.
LAYAWAY? - we offer a free layaway plan on any item over £150. A 25% deposit will secure and reserve the item for you with the balance due in 60 days. If you would like to place an item on layaway, please send us a message and we will assist in setting this up for you.
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Materials: Natural Mediterranean Coral, 9ct gold.