Antique Coral Parure Comprising a Necklace, Bracelets and Earrings

Those who wanted to go 'à la mode' at the beginning of the still young 19th century looked to antiquity for inspiration. Flowing, gossamer dresses made of white muslin were intended to be reminiscent of the garments of ancient sculptures and, like these, were not fitted but gathered under the bust - the so-called Empire cut was born. The jewellery was also in keeping with this ideal. Cameos and Mediterranean corals, typical Italian materials, were intended to evoke the art treasures of antiquity. This parure combines both cameos and coral. It consists of a necklace, two bracelets and a pair of earrings, each adorned with gold-set cameos and connected by links that look like natural coral but are ornamentally designed by hand. The earrings were put together at a later date using antique elements from the same period, but fit in beautifully with the overall look of the parure. The heads carved in coral depict mythological figures from Roman antiquity. The center of the necklace shows the head of Hermes with typical winged helmet. He is accompanied by Flora with flowers in her hair, a Bacchante with a wreath of vine leaves and a female figure that cannot be identified due to the lack of attributes. Another cameo shows a young man with curly hair, possibly Antinous, the beautiful lover of the Emperor Hadrian. The bracelets also show Flora and a bacchante, while the pair of earrings each contain two antique-style female figures without any attributes. The set has been preserved in its original contemporary case. A little treasure, and a journey to a long-forgotten time! A comparative piece for the type of coral gem bracelet can be found, for example, in Brigitte Marquardt: Schmuck. Classicism and Biedermeier, 1780-1850, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Munich 1983, p. 203.

Estimation:€8,980

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