We have similar antique Chinese jewelry for auction that would pair nicely with this Necklace. To view, please click the picture links below.
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The Piece
Auction Estimate: $2,500 - $5,000
Age Circa: Art Deco C. 1920 - 1940
Markings: Unmarked
Country of Origin: China
Brand: Unknown
Gram Weight: 60 Grams
Metal Type: --
Metal Melt Value: -- (Value is All-Inclusive Weight)
Material: Silk String
Main Stone: Jadeite
Main Stone Measurements/Color: The green Jadeite beads have a diameter of 8 mm and feature a beautiful green hue. The white Jadeite measures 3.5 mm thick as well as just under .75" in diameter.
Accent Stone: --
Accent Stone Measurements/Color: --
Stone Treatment: Not Treated - Grade A
Stone Cuts: Carved Polished Bead - Carved Rings
Item Measurements: The necklace measures 28" in length. It has no clasp and goes over the head in opera length style.
Closure/Clasp Type: No clasp
Link Type: Bead
Pendant Type: --
Notable Features: The necklace would have been handmade during the Art Deco era. During the Art Deco era exotic designs were being imported in from China and around the world. British Controlled China in particular produced some of the finest jewelry and crafts in the world. Chinese craftsmen and women were known to be among the finest in the world, often using precious metals and rare gemstones. This beautiful necklace was most likely made by custom order, hand sketched, and crafted. It would have taken weeks if not months to complete. It wears in the flapper opera length style of the period, just like the Gatsby book and movies.
The necklace includes 67 hand polished and sourced natural Jadeite Beads. The necklace also features hand carved and sourced natural White Jadeite rings that have been looped together in a paper link style. Each of the beads and rings are semi translucent and Grade A not treated. The beads would have been hand strung on silk string and double knotted in between to prevent friction rubbing and loss of beads in case of a break. The combination of the two very rare types of Jadeite are truly contrasting but complimenting to each other. Please don't miss your chance to own this very special piece of history.
Damage: Age appropriate wear. Some of the Jadeite has natural stress fractures from being formed. They are not at risk of breaking unless dropped.
*This listing is for the item only. All display boxes and/or photography props do not come with your purchase.*
The History
The Art Deco era is famous for being the "Gatsby" or "Roaring Twenties" era. A lot of gorgeous and timeless designs in jewelry came out of this period. Jewelry from this period was most often crafted between 1920 and 1935. Art Deco jewelry sometimes featured white gold or platinum, geometric designs, European cut diamonds, filigree, and calibre cut stones that are specifically cut to fit the design of the piece.
During the Art Deco period jewelers often made jewelry upon custom order, this would often take weeks to months to completely craft by hand.
Chinese stone cutters were considered some of the finest artisans in the world. They would spend years learning to hand-carve many different types of stones, and excelled in creating finely detailed pieces other artisans couldn’t even hope to compare to. Their skill was so refined that they could even carve delicate stones like coral and jade. Chinese stone cutters were so talented that Victorian era European socialites would commission pieces from them, preferring the hefty price tag that came with such high quality work to the ready availability of Western stonework.
It was in China—where the gem-carving tradition was already thousands of years old—that jadeite reached its peak as an important artistic medium. The first jadeite reached China in the late 1700s, and late eighteenth and early nineteenth century carvers created masterpieces that are still unsurpassed in concept, design, and technical execution.
The oldest dynasties of China believed jade to be the blood of Pan Gu, the Creator God of the universe. This blood was valued by purity as indicated by color, with white jade being the most pure, and therefore most highly prized. It was considered divine, and was believed to have magical properties it could imbue on the wearer, which made white jade highly desirable for jewelry. The ancient scholar Xu Shen wrote that the stone embodied the five virtues of purity, kindness, rectitude, wisdom, and bravery.
