Description
DESCRIPTION – This is a vintage, faux pearl, costume jewellery brooch from around the middle of the 20th century. It consists of a gold tone metal leaf that has a pattern on it. There are small rings attached to the leaf that hold lilac coloured faux pearls on glass. Hard to describe the colour – lilac/light mauve – the photo is not too bad on colour. There is a chain hanging that holds some more of the pearl drops – there are twenty in all. Dangley pearl costume jewellery brooches have always been popular – especially in the 1950/60s – but I love the fact that this is a different, unusual colour! ADDITIONAL INFORMATION – BigBeadLittleBead.com has an interesting ‘History of Man Made Faux Pearls’ that I found very informative. Natural pearls have always been prized but were not in the budget of so many people and faux pearls have been in existence since Roman Times. (Something I did not know!) At the end of the 19th century faux pearls were produced in Mallorco (Majorca) by E. Heusch and by 1943 the company was now named Majorica – and became the leading producer of good quality faux pearls – it was the luxury brand. Today the leading countries making faux pearls are Czech. and China. There is a wide variation on the quality – some are on glass and some on acrylic – but it is the coating that makes the difference. Of course Miriam Haskell and Coco Chanel led the way by making faux pearl beads popular! MEASUREMENTS AND CONDITION – Difficult to measure but the length is approx. 3 inches and the width about 2 inches. The condition is good. I have checked all the lilac pearls and they seem to be good. The chain and rings have aged and are no longer bright and shiny. The back of the leaf has a couple of dark marks but these are not seen when wearing it. It must have been well looked after!
Ref: 3536 D64/25
