Gucci Alligator Finish Large Gold Ball Necklace
About the Item
- Creator:
- Metal:
- Weight:127.7 g
- Dimensions:Width: 1 in (25.4 mm)Length: 18 in (457.2 mm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1980s
- Condition:
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1483568451
Gucci
Long before trend-bucking creative director Alessandro Michele brought his hallucinatory “Utopian Fantasy” campaign to Gucci, it was a modest Italian leather shop. Today, it’s an internationally renowned luxury house with an iconic logo, and vintage Gucci clothing, handbags and shoes are among high fashion's most covetable goods.
Guccio Gucci (1881–1953) admired the stylish suitcases he saw wealthy guests arrive with at the Savoy Hotel in London, where he worked as a bellhop. So, in 1921, after a stint at Franzi, a luggage company in his hometown of Florence, he opened a leather goods shop of his own.
At first, Gucci’s Florence business specialized in equestrian accessories. But as its reputation flourished, particularly among the English aristocracy, so too did its footprint. In 1938, he brought three of his sons — Aldo, Vasco and Rodolfo — into the business and expanded it to Rome and later Milan. In the mid-1930s, a League of Nations embargo against Italy pushed Gucci to experiment with alternatives to imported leather. Its woven hemp fabric from Naples, adorned with the brand’s signature diamond print, was a hit, especially among A-list celebrities. The material was first used on suitcases before finding enduring popularity on handbags. (No list of revered designer purses would be complete without Gucci.)
In the 1950s, Elizabeth Taylor carried one of Gucci’s bamboo-handled tote bags, another adaptation to material rationing. After Jackie Kennedy was seen sporting a slouchy Gucci tote in 1961, it was renamed for the First Lady. Then Grace Kelly, on a visit to the boutique in Milan, inspired Rodolfo Gucci to work with Italian illustrator and Gucci textile designer Vittorio Accornero on the Flora print in 1966. Taking cues from Sandro Botticelli’s Primavera, with its pattern of flora and insects, it was painted entirely by hand and featured no fewer than 37 colors.
In 1953, just 15 days after opening his first store on New York’s 5th Avenue, Guccio passed away at 72. The early 1970s saw store openings in Tokyo and Hong Kong, but by the late 1980s, Gucci was floundering. Rodolfo Gucci took charge in 1982, but family drama and lawsuits ensued. In 1993, Rodolfo’s son, Maurizio, transferred his shares in the company to Investcorp, ending the family’s involvement in Gucci. Dawn Mello, then-president of Bergdorf Goodman, joined as creative director in 1989. But it was Tom Ford, who took over as creative director in 1994, who ultimately revived the brand.
Ford’s racy ads, shot by photographers such as Mario Testino, stirred controversy. And his potent vision of sexed-up femininity — with “jewel-toned satin shirts unbuttoned to there,” as Vogue described his breakthrough 1995 runway show — was wildly successful. The new millennium brought new ownership — Pinault Printemps Redoute in 2004 — and a more toned-down vision from Frida Giannini, who became sole creative director in 2006. Alessandro Michele was named creative director in 2015, and the storied brand took a giant leap forward.
Find vintage Gucci clothing and accessories on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: New York, NY
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- 1870s Austro-Hungarian Emerald Garnet Opal Enamel Silver NecklaceLocated in New York, NYAn elaborate and highly unusual late 19th century Austro-Hungarian necklace in the Italian style, of hand worked silver with colorful enameled detai...Category
Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Renaissance Revival Link Necklaces
MaterialsEmerald, Garnet, Opal, Silver
- 1970s Patek Phillipe Five Piece Modernist Gold Enamel Jewelry SuiteBy Patek PhilippeLocated in New York, NYA superb and extremely stylish 1970s 5 piece jewelry suite by Patek Phillippe of 18K gold and recessed black enamel including necklace, bracelet, ear clips, ring, and brooch/pendant. Total weight 315 grams. Disks measure 3/4 inch x 1 inch. Necklace 28 inches. Bracelet 7 1/4 inches. Brooch has double pin back and hinged bale. Ring size 10. Gold and makers marks. All signed. This one-of-a-kind suite was a 1970s custom order by Princess Zora Jurisic-Makaeff (1922-2014) born in what today is Croatia. Once a classically trained opera singer, her husbands included inventor Felix Lorand; English Lord...Category
Vintage 1970s Swiss Modernist Link Necklaces
Materials18k Gold
- Classical Greek Lapis Granulated Gold Ball EarringsLocated in New York, NYStunning 1970s earrings recreating the 4th Century Hellenistic Greek style made of 22K gold hung with square bars of rich deep lapis, and gold balls...Category
Vintage 1970s Greek Classical Greek Drop Earrings
Materials22k Gold
- Large 1970s Mapamenos Classic Grecian Gold Ear ClipsBy Mapamenos NatepasLocated in New York, NYDistinctive 1970s Mapamenos-Natepas 18K gold ear clips worked in an abstraction of a classic Grecian motif with their form and highly unusual texture creating a subtle play of light ...Category
Vintage 1970s Greek Clip-on Earrings
Materials18k Gold
- Tiffany & Co. Angela Cummings Black Jade, Pearl and Gold Necklace SuiteBy Angela Cummings for Tiffany & Co.Located in New York, NYA stunning Angela Cummings design for Tiffany & Co. in 18K gold of necklace, bracelet and ear clips inlaid with geometric patterns of black jade and mother of pearl. Necklace weighs...Category
Vintage 1980s American Choker Necklaces
Materials18k Gold
- Tiffany & Co. Black Jade and Mother of Pearl Gold Necklace and Ear ClipsBy Angela Cummings for Tiffany & Co.Located in New York, NYSimply chic for any age, a Tiffany & Co. necklace of carved mother-of-pearl disks with 18K gold clasp and a perfectly placed checkered disk of pearl and black jade inlay with matchin...Category
Vintage 1980s American Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsJade, 18k Gold
- 18K White gold Graduated Color SapphireYellow Gold Ball NecklaceBy La Fleur JewelsLocated in Bangkok, THGraduated color sapphire ball necklace made in 18k white gold .We graduated color sapphire ball to make it look soft and sweet .It will look sweet form light to dark.sWe also graduat...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Link Necklaces
MaterialsRuby, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold
- Greek Hand Hammered Finish Gold Plaque NecklaceLocated in New York, NYGreek made in 18k hand hammered gold, this necklace features 17 plaque movable elements. The necklace is 14" long, center widest point is 1.75". Does not bear any hallmarks. Weight -...Category
20th Century Greek Link Necklaces
MaterialsGold
- Gucci Large Horsebit Pendant Link Chain NecklaceBy GucciLocated in Holland, PA18k yellow gold Large Horsebit Pendant Link Chain Necklace by Gucci. Details: Chain Length: 22" Chain Width: 4mm Pendant: 1 3/4" x 1.1" Weight: 27.7 grams Stamped Hallmarks: Gucci 75...Category
1990s Italian Link Necklaces
MaterialsYellow Gold
- Anne Klein Lucite and Ball Gold Filled Necklace VintageBy Anne KleinLocated in North Miami, FLThis great original vintage Anne Klein chunky lucite ball and gold filed embellished loop design necklace is from when Anne Klein was still living d...Category
Vintage 1980s American Modern Link Necklaces
MaterialsGold-filled
- Large Yellow Gold Link NecklaceLocated in Poitiers, FRNecklace in 18 carat yellow gold, eagle head hallmark. This solid gold necklace is composed of large long articulated links that are domed on the upper surface. The clasp is incorpo...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Link Necklaces
MaterialsGold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Versatile Long 18k Satin Finish Yellow Gold Lariat Necklace W/TasselsLocated in Palm Beach, FLThis wonderful vintage wheat chain link Lariat necklace is the personification of "La Dolce Vita"! It is absolutely unique among other lariats with it's...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Link Necklaces
Materials18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
Explore a Century of Gucci Fashion in London
The iconic Italian label’s traveling exhibition has just arrived in London.
The Stories behind the Most Famous Luxury Fashion Logos
From Chanel to YSL, the logos of some legacy fashion houses spark instant brand recognition and have come to symbolize a kind of luxury that feels at once aspirational and attainable.