Long Antique Art Deco Pearl Sautoir Necklace, c. 1925

Gentle, soft, delicate, and a little ethereal—it’s hard to find the right words to describe this pearl necklace. Hundreds of the finest natural pearls have been strung into a lace-like pattern to form this long necklace, known as a sautoir. Two necklace styles dominated European fashion in the years around 1920. On the one hand, the “Collier de Chien” or “choker”—a wide necklace that fits very snugly around the neck, further elongating the elegant proportions when worn with a deep neckline. And on the other hand, the “sautoir”—a particularly long, freely moving necklace that emphasizes the wearer’s movement and elegance. Typically, this type of necklace was adorned with a large, long pendant. With its white hue, it appears as if moonlight has become caught in a delicate scarf. The sautoir presented here is an antique original from the 1920s. At the end of the long strand of pearls, an element made of white gold and platinum ties the two ends of the design together. The element, adorned with milgrains, also serves as a lobster clasp into which a pendant can be attached. See also, regarding the piece’s features and dating, David Bennett/Daniela Mascetti: Understanding Jewelry, Woodbridge 2010, pp. 270 ff. and p. 275.

Estimate:$1,560.91

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