Verdura Cultured Pearl Gold Button Earclips
View Similar Items
Verdura Cultured Pearl Gold Button Earclips
About the Item
- Creator:
- Metal:
- Stone:
- Dimensions:Diameter: 1.13 in (28.71 mm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:2005
- Condition:
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU201846783
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.
- Harry Winston 18K Gold Cultured Pearl Diamond EarclipsBy Harry WinstonLocated in New York, NYSet with two cultured pearls measuring approximately 13.1 and 13.0 mm, highlighted by marquise-shaped diamonds, signed Winston. Stamped OR for 18 karat gold. The diamonds stated to w...Category
1990s Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
- Fabulous Tahitian Cultured Pearl Diamond EarclipsBy GubelinLocated in Lucerne, CHThese handcrafted earclips in 18k white gold feature two attractive Tahitian cultured pearls of 9.1 mm diameter. The pearls are embedded in a field of 350 exqusitely pave set brillia...Category
Late 20th Century Swiss Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, White Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
- Vintage Nautilus Shape 18 K Yellow Gold Cultured Pearl EarclipsLocated in Zurich, ZollstrasseInspired by the harmonious shape of a nautilus this lovely and unusual earclips are crafted in 18 K yellow Gold and set with cultured Perals. Very lovely on the ear! Masterfully hand...Category
Vintage 1980s Unknown Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsCultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Diamond Cultured Pearl 18 Karat White Gold Square Earclip Lever-Back EarringsLocated in Boca Raton, FLDiamond and cultured pearl earrings crafted in 18 karat white gold. The earrings feature 42 round brilliant cut diamonds weighing approximately .75 CTW and 8 white matching pearls me...Category
Late 20th Century Modern Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, Cultured Pearl, White Gold, 18k Gold
- Verdura Diamond 18k Gold Platinum Primrose EarclipsBy VerduraLocated in New York, NYCapture Spring Elegance with Verdura Diamond and 18k Gold Primrose Earclips Embrace the timeless beauty of nature with this exquisite pair of Verdura diamond and 18k gold primrose earclips. These earrings, crafted by the iconic jewelry house renowned for its bold and botanical designs, are a true testament to Verdura's legacy of innovation and craftsmanship. Imagine the delicate sparkle of diamonds nestled within the graceful form of a primrose flower, meticulously sculpted from rich 18k yellow gold. The platinum accents add a touch of cool sophistication, ensuring a comfortable and secure wear. These Verdura earclips...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
- pearl diamond gold starfish EarclipsLocated in New York, NYA pair of sophisticated earclips in the shape of a starfish, the body enhanced with fine brilliant cut diamonds, centering two spherical pearls. 18k yellow gold mounting.Category
Early 2000s Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsPearl, White Diamond, 18k Gold