Georgian Grand Tour Coral Necklace – Butter Lane Antiques

By A Mystery Man Writer

DATE: Georgian, c.1810 Incredible Georgian necklace hand carved orange coral beads of varying sizes and shapes. Of particular interest are the weird sort of pulley shaped ones paired together I have it on good authority (@ericaweiner) that these odd double-ended shapes (there's presumably a name for them, but I'm un

DATE: Georgian, c.1810

Incredible Georgian necklace hand carved orange coral beads of varying sizes and shapes. Of particular interest are the weird sort of pulley shaped ones paired together I have it on good authority (@ericaweiner) that these odd double-ended shapes (there's presumably a name for them, but I'm unfamiliar) hark back to ancient Rome, where they represented nipples and/or dicks. The necklace features 37 pairs of them, some tiny, some quite large, and will have been purchased by a Grand Tourer during their time in Italy, circa 1810.

STONES

Carved Coral

MEASUREMENTS

Wearable length: 18 inches

Largest bead: 1.5cm

WEIGHT

20.6g

MARKS

No marks present, clasp is base metal (pinchbeck)

CONDITION

Very good, one bead is damaged. Otherwise light wear commensurate with age