An 18k gold diamond and natural "soufflure" pearl grape pendant.
An 18k gold diamond and natural "soufflure" pearl grape pendant.
Two piece pendant. The bail designed as a stem with two leaves pavé set with 62 cushion-shaped old-cut diamonds (totalling ca. 1.62 ct, M/N, vs-si). The opulent grape pendant formed from a drilled, bizarrely shaped natural pearl (so-called "monster pearl" blister, ca. 26 x 21 x 16 - 14.9 mm, cream coloured with a delicate grey lustre). Not hallmarked. Pearl surface slightly irregular, two small holes on the reverse with discharge of dark pearl substance. H total 4.4 cm. Weight 14.44 g.
Second half 19th century.
Certificate
Report no. 83146 by Elisabeth Strack, Gemmologisches Institut Hamburg, dated 15 Feb. 2024, confirming that the large baroque pearl is a natural pearl "of the type known in the 19th century as 'soufflures', whose external shape is due to the action of gases produced by fermentation of the organic matter present inside the pearl".
Provenance
From a Rhenish private collection.
Bid on this lot
An 18k gold diamond and natural "soufflure" pearl grape pendant.
Two piece pendant. The bail designed as a stem with two leaves pavé set with 62 cushion-shaped old-cut diamonds (totalling ca. 1.62 ct, M/N, vs-si). The opulent grape pendant formed from a drilled, bizarrely shaped natural pearl (so-called "monster pearl" blister, ca. 26 x 21 x 16 - 14.9 mm, cream coloured with a delicate grey lustre). Not hallmarked. Pearl surface slightly irregular, two small holes on the reverse with discharge of dark pearl substance. H total 4.4 cm. Weight 14.44 g.
Second half 19th century.
Certificate
Report no. 83146 by Elisabeth Strack, Gemmologisches Institut Hamburg, dated 15 Feb. 2024, confirming that the large baroque pearl is a natural pearl "of the type known in the 19th century as 'soufflures', whose external shape is due to the action of gases produced by fermentation of the organic matter present inside the pearl".
Provenance
From a Rhenish private collection.
