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Couture Late1920s ChanelRousseletStyle PearlescentPendants SilverChain Necklace
About the Item
Featuring 12 large patinated pearlescent charms distinctly handcrafted by Parisian Louis Rousselet--the master glass-and-metal-ornament parurier for French couture fashion houses since 1920--this heavy silver chain necklace is made in the unique chunky style of Coco Chanel that she introduced in the 1920s.
Capping Rousselet's signature Art-Deco-period handmade beads, his intricate multi-texture metal caps for these balls resemble organic shapes like the stems of acorns and fruit. In a bib arrangement, the duotone reflective spheres--in black glass, blue-gray enameled galalith, and silver metal--draw attention to the bust of the wearer.
Aside from chain jewelry commissioned by Chanel, Rousselet-style jewelry was usually constructed with thin wires or braided string to enable his beads to attract the most attention. Notably, this necklace fastens with an enlarged spring-ring clasp that became associated with increasingly heavy Chanel costume jewelry. Like 1920s Chanel jewelry by Rousselet, the necklace is both unmarked for French origin and unsigned.
In subsequent decades, variations of chunky-charm chain necklaces were reproduced by Chanel with her other paruriers using different materials in which they specialized, such as a similar Chanel-signed piece in the 1960s by bronze-maker Maison Denez.
In addition to layering with other necklaces like faux-pearl ropes, we recommend that the buyer alternatively wear this versatile piece wrapped twice around the wrist, like Chanel herself often did with oversized-charm jewelry.
Due to minor loss of silver tone due to normal hand-contact with the clasp and caps over time, a faint brassy tone can be seen in very bright light such as our photography. As this is consistent with its century-old age, we consider this good condition, which also includes fine scratches.
Near the end of the 20th century after the death of Coco Chanel (1883-1971), the ongoing company Chanel revisited such early designs involving Rousselet (1892-1980) as inspiration for metal rope-link necklaces, such as those by Victoire de Castellane. So it is easy to find similar Chanel designs among contemporary costume jewelry since these pieces are all signed.
- Metal:
- Weight:5.4 ounces (lb)
- Dimensions:Width: 1.5 in (38.1 mm)Depth: 1 in (25.4 mm)Diameter: 5.5 in (139.7 mm)Length: 17 in (431.8 mm)
- Style:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1920s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses.
- Seller Location:Chicago, IL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU3244218315302
About the Seller
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Established in 2012
1stDibs seller since 2022
9 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: North Adams, MA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
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