Arts and Crafts Era Silver Operculum Collar Necklace
Arts and Crafts Era Silver Operculum Collar Necklace
Regular price$ 3,150.00
$ 3,150.00
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- Easy Returns
- Ships in 1-2 Days
- Layaway Available
This necklace feels like something discovered rather than made, as though the sea itself had a hand in its creation. Each operculum shell, nature’s own perfect spiral, holds a quiet, ancient power, its soft creams, mossy greens, and warm amber tones swirling inward like a held breath. Worn close to the neck, the effect is mesmerizing and deeply sensual, organic in a way that Arts and Crafts era jewelers understood instinctively. This is not ornament for ornament’s sake, but adornment rooted in curiosity, natural history, and the romance of the unknown.
Handcrafted in about 1890, this collar necklace is composed of seventeen operculum shells, each bezel set in silver and linked with substantial articulated connections that allow the necklace to drape fluidly around the neck. The opercula range in size, creating a beautifully graduated rhythm, with the largest measuring approximately 24 × 22 × 8.5 millimeters and the smallest about 10 × 11 × 4.3 mm. The necklace measures 16 inches in length, with individual links averaging approximately 31 × 10 mm overall, and it weighs an impressive 116.9 grams. Though unmarked, the silver has been tested.
This is the kind of jewel that stops conversations mid-sentence. Rare, sculptural, and utterly unapologetic, it speaks to the Victorian fascination with the natural world and the desire to carry its wonders close. There is nothing ordinary about it, nothing repeatable. Once worn, it becomes a signature, an object of intrigue, confidence and quiet authority. A true collector’s piece, and one of those jewels that reminds us why antique jewelry will always outshine the expected.
I offer free layaway on most items purchased for full retail price, please inquire if you are interested in setting up a layaway. We ship when payment is complete and items purchased or payments made on layaway are eligible for store credit only.
I always want you to be happy with every aspect of your purchase. If you are not completely satisfied for any reason simply let me know and we'll work together to get the item returned for a full refund. I guarantee that my pictures and descriptions are as accurate as possible. My goal is to exceed your best expectations.
Item ID: NEA24746VA
Handcrafted in about 1890, this collar necklace is composed of seventeen operculum shells, each bezel set in silver and linked with substantial articulated connections that allow the necklace to drape fluidly around the neck. The opercula range in size, creating a beautifully graduated rhythm, with the largest measuring approximately 24 × 22 × 8.5 millimeters and the smallest about 10 × 11 × 4.3 mm. The necklace measures 16 inches in length, with individual links averaging approximately 31 × 10 mm overall, and it weighs an impressive 116.9 grams. Though unmarked, the silver has been tested.
This is the kind of jewel that stops conversations mid-sentence. Rare, sculptural, and utterly unapologetic, it speaks to the Victorian fascination with the natural world and the desire to carry its wonders close. There is nothing ordinary about it, nothing repeatable. Once worn, it becomes a signature, an object of intrigue, confidence and quiet authority. A true collector’s piece, and one of those jewels that reminds us why antique jewelry will always outshine the expected.
I offer free layaway on most items purchased for full retail price, please inquire if you are interested in setting up a layaway. We ship when payment is complete and items purchased or payments made on layaway are eligible for store credit only.
I always want you to be happy with every aspect of your purchase. If you are not completely satisfied for any reason simply let me know and we'll work together to get the item returned for a full refund. I guarantee that my pictures and descriptions are as accurate as possible. My goal is to exceed your best expectations.
Item ID: NEA24746VA
