Necklaces

An early twentieth century citrine intaglio diamond and onyx necklet.

Citrine intaglio of a delicately detailed early twentieth century classical woman’s profile jewellery and clothing in an ornately pierced and millegrain edged platinum topped gallery set with diamonds delineated by channels and borders of French cut black onyx suspended from a similarly set surmount and chains

The first decade of the twentieth century was a time of great prosperity and grand social occasions for the wealthy before the disappearance of this lifestyle with World War 1. More jewellery was purchased during those years than in any period of history. The lightness and delicacy of the jewellery made possible by the introduction of platinum reflected eighteenth jewellery designs of the Louis XV1 style. Around 1910 the enduring combination of black and white came into fashion and diamond and onyx became the craze of the moment. It is fascinating to surmise that this exquisitely carved citrine in the fashionable diamond-onyx setting was a commissioned carving of a particular young woman. Who was she? Was the intaglio carved to commemorate a particular occasion? If only the intaglio could talk.