AN INDIAN BEJEWELLED GOLD NECKLACE WITH SEED PEARLS
Possibly Jaipur, Rajasthan, North-Western India, late 19th - early 20th century

Composed of twenty-one links strung together on a metal and silk thread, each link covered in gold foil, possibly 22ct, and encrusted with foil-backed, table-cut transparent quartz stones, possibly rock crystal [RI 1.54 - 1.55], in gold kundan settings designed in the shape of two drop-like leaves with central green glass floral buds, fringed with miniature arch-shaped kundan-set charms, seed pearls, and turquoise beads, the link in the middle set with a larger rectangular table-cut rock crystal bead flanked by small pointy petals and attached to a cusped rosette pendant, the reverse plain, the terminals strung with red, yellow and gold threads for fastening, the links 19.2cm long, the necklace 23.5cm at widest points.

Provenance:

Formerly in the Benyaminoff Collection, New York, USA;

On loan at the L.A. Mayer Memorial Museum, Jerusalem, 1987 - 1998;

Sotheby's London, 30 April 1998, lot 78.