Verdura Amethyst Bead Rock Candy Long Necklace
View Similar Items
Verdura Amethyst Bead Rock Candy Long Necklace
About the Item
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.
- Verdura Citrine Diamond Pearl Byzantine Long NecklaceBy VerduraLocated in Palm Beach, FL"Byzantine" long necklace, featuring a single-strand comprised of polished citrine beads accented by gold beads, silver and diamond pierced beads, and cultured pearls. 18k yellow go...Category
2010s Unknown Modern Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsCitrine, Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
- Carved Lapis Lazuli Rock Crystal Gold Bead NecklaceLocated in Palm Beach, FLBead necklace, composed of twenty half carved lapis lazuli and half carved frosted rock crystal beads, the halves joined by a central flat yellow gold disk. In between each of these ...Category
2010s Modern Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsLapis Lazuli, Quartz, Crystal, Rock Crystal, Gold, 14k Gold
- Seaman Schepps 18k Gold Pearl Citrine Amber Baroque NecklaceBy Seaman ScheppsLocated in Palm Beach, FLSeaman Schepps "Baroque" bead necklace, featuring cultured pearls, citrine, amber and 18k yellow gold filigree beads connected by gold wire. Including ten 9-9.6mm cultured pearls wi...Category
2010s American Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsAmber, Citrine, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Verdura 18k Yellow Gold Diamond Target EarringsBy VerduraLocated in Palm Beach, FLVerdura "Target" clip earrings, designed with the fletching of four gold arrows protruding from a gold target with a round brilliant-cut diamond-set bullseye. Handmade in 18k yellow ...Category
2010s Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Verdura 18k Yellow Gold Black Onyx 'Trio' RingBy VerduraLocated in Palm Beach, FLVerdura "Trio" 18kt yellow gold and black onyx ring made from the original designs of Fulco di Vedura. Six rows of gold bars wrapping around three tubular, black onyx, cabochon cut s...Category
2010s Unknown Fashion Rings
MaterialsOnyx, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$7,160 Sale Price20% Off - Verdura 18k Yellow Gold Rope Link Bracelet WatchBy VerduraLocated in Palm Beach, FLVerdura 18k yellow gold double rope link bracelet watch, featuring a circular white lacquered dial with applied gold dots for hour markers. Dial marked "VERDURA" "SWISS MADE". One ...Category
2010s Swiss Wrist Watches
Materials18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Coral Bead Rock Crystal Ultra-Long NecklaceLocated in New York, NYA colorful three-strand necklace can complete a fashionable sundress as elegantly as it can add a solid impact to a smartly tailored suit. This ultra-long and versatile Coral Bead Ro...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsCoral, Rock Crystal, 18k Gold
- Amethyst Beaded NecklaceLocated in Chesterland, OHThe length of the necklace is 18.5 inches (47 cm). The size of the smooth round beads is 12 mm. The beads range from translucent to transparent in a deep purple color. The color of t...Category
2010s American Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsAmethyst, Sterling Silver, Gold Plate
- Long Tiger's Eye Amethyst and Garnet Bead Necklace with Gold Filled Ribbed BeadsLocated in Miami Beach, FLStunning 32" long beaded necklace with 11.5 - 11.75 mm tiger's eye beads with 4 multi strand links of smaller tiger's eye, amethyst and garnet beads accented by 10mm ribbed gold fill...Category
Late 20th Century Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsAmethyst, Garnet, Tiger's Eye, Gold-filled
- Retro Amethyst Beads Gold NecklaceLocated in New York, NYAn Retro amethyst beads and gold rondelles necklace, circa 1930.Category
Vintage 1930s Retro Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsAmethyst, 18k Gold
- Vintage Rock Crystal Graduated Bead Necklace, Amethyst & Clear, Sterling SilverLocated in Milford, DEEmbrace the allure of yesteryear with this vintage necklace, a stunning piece that captures the essence of classic elegance. This necklace features graduated faceted rock crystal bea...Category
Mid-20th Century American Retro Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsRock Crystal, Sterling Silver
- Amber Oval Bead Long NecklaceLocated in Firenze, ITSHIPPING POLICY: No additional costs will be added to this order. Shipping costs will be totally covered by the seller (customs duties included). The single-strand of graduated ova...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Retro Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsAmber, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold