Berganza More Necklaces

Victorian diamond riviere necklace. Set with a graduated row of fourtey nine cushion shape old mine diamonds in open back rubover si...

Saint Cecelia chatelaine pendant by Froment-Meurice. A gold and silver pendant in the Renaissance Revival style, the main element composed of an ornately carved openwork architectural structure in the form of an altarpiece, the central niche surmounted by a cupola set with pearls, with scroll and scalloped details to the interior and suspending a fleur-de-lis, containing a figure of Saint Cecelia playing a viola da gamba with two dancing putti to either side, flanked by two smaller raised pedestals issuing fleur-de-lis, each set with a putto (one playing a harp, the other playing a triangle), suspending a double swagged gold chain set with pearls, with two further chains suspending on one side a circular lapis lazuli seal in a trumpet form mount and on the other a watch winder, the whole accented with blue enamel and set to the reverse with a hinged band loop, approximately 9.5cm in total length. Tested yellow gold and silver, French, circa 1850. François Désiré Froment-Meurice (1802-1855) was one of the most important French jewellery and silversmiths of the nineteenth century, described by Victor Hugo as the Cellini of his age. He exhibited in a number of International Exhibitions, where Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were among his clients. The Renaissance Revival, as seen here, and the Gothic Revival were his two major decorative styles. This piece is also typical of his penchant for placing a silver figure, usually female, within a yellow gold architectural mount. The central figure and flanking putti are identical to those found on two brooches by Froment-Meurice, one in the Birmingham Museum and one in the Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim. Another brooch by Froment-Meurice, in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, features a similar central figure, but this time as an angel with wings, in a silver oval blue enamelled frame. These examples also bear a similar gold and blue enamel architectural mount, and differ only in the surrounding and pendulant embellishments. Saint Cecelia is the patroness of music, whose feast day is celebrated each November. A Roman maiden, she was amongst the earliest and most famous of the Roman martyrs, reputedly beheaded in 230 AD under the Emperor Alexander Severus. Throughout history, Saint Cecelia has inspired musicians and poets alike, appearing in John Dryden...

Pendant brooch by Child & Child. A pendant/brooch in three detachable sections, the uppermost composed of an elongated octagon with inward bowed sides set with one central diamond in a collet setting with a weight of 2.50 carats, flanked by trefoil forms set with six diamonds in bead settings with a combined weight of 1.20 carats, on a ground of pierced millegrain vertical bars, and encircled by a single scalloped border of twenty six diamonds in bead settings with a combined weight of 13.00 carats; the middle section composed of one central diamond in a collet setting with a weight of 1.20 carats, on a ground of pierced millegrain horizontal bars, and encircled by a stylized laurel wreath set with eighteen diamonds in bead settings with a combined weight of 2.16 carats, surmounted with two diamonds in collet settings with a combined weight of 0.15 carats, and encircled by a further five diamonds in collet settings with a combined weight of 1.50 carats; the bottom section in the same format and settings as the middle with one central diamond at a weight of 0.45 carats, eighteen diamonds weighing 0.90 total carats, two diamonds at 0.10 total carats, and five diamonds at 0.50 total carats, and also with a lower pendant composed of one diamond in a collet setting with a weight of 0.40 carats, above a bell form set with two diamonds in bead settings with a combined weight of 0.60 carats and with three diamonds in bead settings with a combined weight of 0.15 carats, above two more articulated links one composed of a diamond in a collet setting with a weight of 0.25 carats, above one mounted in the same fashion with a weight of 0.15 carats, all above an inverted tear shape link set with two rose cut diamonds in bead settings with a combined weight of 0.03 carats; all set with cushion shape old cut diamonds unless specified, millegrained throughout, and with a grand total of ninety three cushion shape old cut diamonds with an approximate total weight of 25.20 carats, and two round rose cut diamonds with an approximate total weight of 0.03 carats. The upper section is set to reverse with an entirely removable brooch bar with secure C spring clasp, and further set with two loops for a necklace to be attached. Each of the three sections are set with thread bars to attach or remove accordingly, with two threads set to the upper to form a choice of brooch or pendant as desired. Tested platinum, with makers mark for Child and...