Lot 15
15
AN IMPORTANT REVIVALIST GOLD AND ENAMEL 'MELOS' NECKLACE
VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 2… Read more
AN IMPORTANT REVIVALIST GOLD AND ENAMEL 'MELOS' NECKLACE

Details
AN IMPORTANT REVIVALIST GOLD AND ENAMEL 'MELOS' NECKLACE
The mesh-like woven collar suspending a festooned fringe of stylised amphora drops alternately plain or with applied bead and wirework decoration, the chain suspensions further set with blue and green enamel decorative motifs and flowerhead highlights, to the s-shaped clasp with wirework embellished terminals, circa 1863, unsigned but almost certainly by Carlo Giuliano, 40.4cm long
Literature
Cf. Munn, Geoffrey C., Castellani and Giuliano Revivalist Jewellers of the Nineteenth Century, London, 1984, p.107, pl.119 for a photograph of the Hellenistic necklace found at Melos, 4th century B.C. which inspired this lot. It was purchased by The British Museum from Alessandro Castellani in 1872.

Cf. Weber Soros, Susan and Walker, Stefanie, Castellani amd Italian Archaeological Jewelry, Yale University Press, New York, 2004, p.210, pl.8-14 for a photograph of the 'Melos' necklace made by Castellani and p.324, pl.12-14 for the 'Melos' necklace made by Carlo Giuliano.
Special notice
VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 20% on the buyer's premium.

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Francesca Valentini
Francesca Valentini

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Lot Essay

The attribution to Carlo Giuliano rests on an identical signed necklace sold by Christie's on the 20th June 1990, lot 3, which was signed with the C.G. monogram on the clasp, a mark that Giuliano registered in 1863. Giuliano's early training is believed to have taken place in Castellani's workshop, the influence of whom is readily illustrated by this necklace, its design entirely inspired by a Hellenistic necklace once in Castellani's collection and now in that of The British Museum.

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