Verdura 18K Yellow Gold Classic Heavy Gold Link Necklace 19" #17051
About the Item
- Creator:
- Metal:
- Dimensions:Length: 19 in (482.6 mm)
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1990
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Washington Depot, CT
- Reference Number:
Verdura
Fulco di Verdura (1898–1978) is not exactly a household name, except for those who know a thing or two about highly original, often eccentric handcrafted jewelry and, even more so, for those fortunate enough to own some. In that exclusive group, Verdura is regarded as the most gifted and coveted designer of his time.
Verdura was born in Sicily in 1898, the scion of a noble family related to the Lampedusas. (His cousin, Giuseppe di Lampedusa, wrote the great Italian saga The Leopard). His life was charmed from birth. Raised in his family’s villa, he grew up during a time when Sicily, and Palermo in particular, were meccas for well-born and highly cultured European travelers.
A bona fide duke with no clear ambitions but creative leanings aplenty (he could draw and paint), the young Verdura was part of the wandering social circuit — the so-called beau monde — that went from capital to capital, resort to resort.
Verdura, though small in stature, had that indefinable quality called charm. As a result, he was the life of every party he attended. When he finally started designing jewelry under Coco Chanel in the late 1920s, many of his friends became his clients (or received the pieces as gifts). Elsa Maxwell took him under her ample wing when she was hired to do public relations for the Lido in Venice and introduced him to the local and visiting cognoscenti. Chanel, whom he met in Venice, hired him to work in the textiles division of her fashion house. But it was his flair for jewelry that soon caught Coco’s eye. Eventually, he rose to become her personal designer of fine jewelry.
In 2002’s Verdura: The Life and Work of a Master Jeweler (Thames & Hudson), Vanity Fair’s Amy Fine Collins describes the sensation of wearing pieces by Verdura, who drew inspiration from nature for his signature gem-studded seashell brooches and honeybee earrings. “They were ingeniously calculated to flatter the wearer,” writes Collins. “Earrings undulated to complement the convolutions of an earlobe, rings seductively followed the phalanges of a finger, and necklaces gracefully traced the anatomy of the throat.”
In 1934, Verdura left Chanel and together with two friends, aspiring actress Princess Natalia Pavlovna Paley and Baron Nicholas de Gunzburg, moved to the U.S. After several stops, he found a job through Diana Vreeland in Hollywood with Paul Flato, then the “jeweler to the stars.” Soon he was signing his work and helping Flato cultivate the crème de la creme of the silver screen — those both on it and behind it.
Verdura left Los Angeles for New York and opened his own salon, first on Fifth Avenue in 1939, just as World War II was beginning in Europe. His backers were Vincent Astor and Cole Porter, for whom he made bejeweled boxes and cigarette cases — gifts from Porter’s wife, Linda — to commemorate the opening nights of several musicals. Verdura began to expand both his repertoire — he became much more daring and flamboyant — and his clientele. The Duchess of Windsor, Daisy Fellowes, Greta Garbo and others routinely gave him commissions. In 1941, Verdura collaborated on a collection of six pieces with Salvador Dalí to accompany a Dalí exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art. Verdura retired in 1972 and left the care of the company to his partner, Joseph Alfano. He later moved to London, where he died in 1978 at the age of 79.
Among the most prized pieces on display in a 2014 Verdura jewelry exhibition in New York were Greta Garbo’s curb-link bracelet watch, which Verdura designed for her in 1939; Coco Chanel’s pair of Maltese Cross cuff bracelets (she wore one on each wrist); and Diana Vreeland’s duo of Byzantine brooches.
Find a range of authentic Verdura jewelry today on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Washington Depot, CT
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- 18K Yellow Gold Pomellato ID Chain Link Necklace #16123By PomellatoLocated in Washington Depot, CTVintage 18K Yellow Gold Pomellato ID Chain Link Necklace Gorgeous Pomellato chain necklace crafted from 18K yellow gold for a beautiful finish! Chain length: 15" Weight: 37.5 g/ 2...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chain Necklaces
MaterialsGold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- 18K Yellow Gold Y Necklace #15228Located in Washington Depot, CT18K Yellow Gold Y Necklace This gorgeous Y necklace is crafted from 18K yellow gold that would look beautiful on anyone! Chain length: 16 3/4" Weigh...Category
20th Century Chain Necklaces
MaterialsGold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Verdura 14K Yellow Gold Classic Greta Garbo Style Gold Curb Link Bracelet #16770By VerduraLocated in Washington Depot, CTVintage Verdura 14K Yellow Gold Classic Heavy Greta Garbo Style Gold Curb Link Bracelet From The Verdura website: "After debuting her own Curb-Link Bracelet and Watch in publicity ...Category
20th Century Link Bracelets
MaterialsGold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
- 14 Karat Yellow Gold Mariner Link Necklace #15580Located in Washington Depot, CTVintage 14 Karat Yellow Gold Mariner Link Necklace- This elegant mariner link necklace is crafted in meticulously detailed 14K yellow gold...Category
20th Century Chain Necklaces
Materials14k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Vintage 14 Karat Yellow Gold Link Necklace #15351Located in Washington Depot, CTVintage 14 Karat Yellow Gold Link Necklace- This elegant link necklace is crafted in beautifully detailed 14K yellow gold. Width: ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Materials14k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Ippolita 18K Yellow Gold Rock Candy Lollipop Black Onyx Necklace #16085By IppolitaLocated in Washington Depot, CTIppolita 18K Yellow Gold Rock Candy Lollipop Black Onyx Necklace Black onyx pendant with 18 karat yellow gold chain. Hallmark: IPPOLITA 18K Weight: 7 g/ 4.5 dwt. Chain Length: 18...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chain Necklaces
MaterialsOnyx, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
- Verdura Classic 18ct Gold Curb Link Necklace Circa 1970sLocated in London, GBClassic 18ct chunky curb link necklace by Verdura c.1970s, the necklace formed of thirty uniform heavy curb links in polished 18ct yellow gold making a seventeen inch necklace, with ...Category
Late 20th Century Chain Necklaces
Materials18k Gold
- 18K Yellow Gold Ribbon Link NecklaceBy Valentin MagroLocated in New York, NYWarm-hued metal of 18k yellow gold forms interlaced ribbons. Connected in sections, each element is a flat slender overlapped ribbon. An alternating pattern of sleek metal followed b...Category
2010s American Link Necklaces
Materials18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
- Antique Victorian Bronze 18K Gold Heavy Link Chain NecklaceLocated in Houston, TXOne lady's hand made textured & polished, 18K yellow gold and bronze princess, necklace. The necklace measures approximately 20.00mm in length by 16.72mm tapering to 6.94mm in width ...Category
Early 20th Century Victorian Chain Necklaces
Materials18k Gold, Bronze
- 18K Yellow Gold Curb Link 2 Piece NecklaceLocated in Palm Beach, FLThis magnificently crafted 18K yellow gold two piece necklace is comprised of one 18 inch length, connected by a hidden clasp, to one 16 inch choker. The choker has one white gold link that is pave set with assorted diamonds weighing an approximate total of 1.50ct. The diamonds are of overall F/G color and VS1 clarity. The 18 inch length is made up of twenty four links, and the choker length is made up of twenty one links. Each of the combined forty two links measure 1 1/8 inches long by 7/8 inches wide. Each necklace has an invisible clasp...Category
Late 20th Century German Modern Link Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Vintage 18k Yellow Gold Oval Link NecklaceLocated in Princeton, NJVintage 18K yellow gold 34 inch oval link necklace. The necklace has a box clasp and a textured finish. The necklace weighs 186dwt., circa 1970s.Category
Vintage 1970s Retro Chain Necklaces
Materials18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Link Chain Necklace in 18K Yellow GoldLocated in Houston, TXChain necklace in 18K yellow gold with highly polished double link chain measuring 32 inches long and 5/16 inches wide.Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Link Necklaces
Materials18k Gold, Yellow Gold