Precious "Garland Style" Pendant with Diamonds In Silver & Gold, c. 1910

In the early years of the 20th century, goldsmiths in Europe achieved a finesse and delicacy of execution and design like never before. Tastes had changed and were tired of the heavy forms of the 19th century. However, the technical requirements had also developed further; new tools and machines made it possible to work even more finely and precisely. For all these reasons, the forms also changed. The designs of these years often look like delicate lace, so fine and light are the details. Brooches and necklaces, earrings and even rings consist of delicate nets, garlands and flowers, whose formal language has become known as a style of its own under the term "Garland Style" in the English-speaking world. This pendant is a beautiful example of this style. A movable pendulum is set in a drop-shaped frame richly set with diamonds. A large, sparkling old-cut diamond shines beneath two small laurel leaves. Its bright light is made all the more intense by a narrow band of blue sapphires. The design of the pendant and its workmanship in every detail are typical of the years around 1910. Equally typical of this period between tradition and modernity is the setting of the pendant with gemstones. The diamond in the center of the design weighs around one carat. It is very pure (VS) and warm-toned. It is oval faceted in the so-called "old mine cut"; its cut suggests that it was cut in the last years of the 19th century and was therefore the starting point for this pendant as an older stone. The smaller diamonds, on the other hand, show significantly older cuts. Together they weigh around 0.95 ct and probably come from older pieces of jewelry from the early or mid-19th century. They were therefore reused here - and this was not a flaw: the owner was certainly proud to be able to continue her own family history with the old stones. And this without being hostile to progress. After all, the sapphires that frame the large diamond are one of the most modern inventions of our time! They are synthetic stones from the laboratory that were regularly processed together with diamonds in the 1910s and were valued accordingly. The pendant thus combines modern taste, technical progress and family history. Today, more than 100 years later, it can once again become the starting point of a wonderful story. The modern platinum chain matches the pendant perfectly. The independent appraisal from Vienna shown here is enclosed with the pendant.

Estimate:$9,997.19

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