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Antique Satin Glass Necklace Bohemian Crème de Mente
1930s Jewelry
This antique Bohemian necklace is made of very rare satin glass beads, and I can tell you a great deal about this necklace.
This is a collectors necklace. This is a necklace you buy because of the very rare satin glass beads. This is not a necklace you buy because you want to match it to an outfit. You match the outfit to the necklace!
I have only ever seen one other necklace similar to this one, and it is in a book published in 1991 by Sibylle Jargstorf. Since the mid nineteenth century, satin glass beads have been made in the Neu-Gablonz Bohemia region, but they were not made in abundance because making beads like this was a very laborious process, and only accomplished by the most skilled lampworkers.
This necklace dates from about 1925-1930 and the beads are lampworked wound satin glass in creme de mente green with pearlescent swirls. The process of winding is clearly visible in these beads.
The pearlescent effect is created by the infusion of quicksilver, a process much like metallic lined beads. Although a mechanical device to infuse quicksilver was invented in 1870 by metalworker Pitzek from Josephstal, many cottage workers still practiced the art of sucking the quicksilver by mouth into the beads, a practice which led to the early death of many bead makers.
This necklace has 20 gorgeous beads in all ranging from 10 mm to 15 mm in size. The beads are strung on silver metal rods and pins with filigree flower bell caps flanking each bead.
Unsigned, the necklace is 25 1/2" long or 64 cm and has the original brass spring clasp.
All of the beads are in superb condition. There are no chips, scratches, or cracks. The silver metal parts are in very nice clean condition with a satin patina from age. There is no dirt or grime anywhere on the necklace.
There is only one slight imperfection : The largest glass bead at the center only has one filigree flower bell cap but it is not very noticeable with all the metal work on the necklace.
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