{"product_id":"19th-century-italian-coral-peasant-bracelet","title":"19th Century Italian Coral Peasant Bracelet","description":"\u003cp\u003eA carved coral bracelet dating from the first half of the 19th century. An exceptional example of \u003cem\u003eItalian Peasant Jewellery\u003c\/em\u003e with a twin (necklace) in the V\u0026amp;A, purchased from \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lostowl.com\/blogs\/articles\/castellanis-revolution-episode-1\"\u003eCastellani\u003c\/a\u003e in 1867.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the V\u0026amp;A:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"The production of coral jewellery has been a major industry in the south of Italy since prehistoric times. Tourists loved to buy coral jewellery in fashionable shapes, but it was also very popular with Italian women, who valued it for its colour and amuletic qualities. Coral branches were often left in a natural state for amulets, but beads for necklaces were always shaped, as here. Although this necklace looks as if it has been made from natural, unworked coral, each of the beads is carefully carved into a shape like a tiny diabolo, with a small knob at each end, and a hole through the narrow part of the centre.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"This necklace was acquired in Genoa as a piece of traditional Italian jewellery, but it is more typical of the kind of fashionable jewellery which was worn all over Europe in the 19th century. The design of this long open-ended necklace, called a negligée, was never part of traditional costume in Italy.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"It was bought for £1 as part of the Castellani collection of Italian Peasant Jewellery at the International Exhibition, Paris, 1867.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEra: 19th Century, 1800-1867\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStone: Natural Red Coral\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLength: 7 inches\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMarks: None, clasp tests as 15ct gold\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition: Great antique condition; clasp likely a later addition. Recently re-strung.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lost Heirloom","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53002516463928,"sku":null,"price":650.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/7387\/2952\/files\/IGCrop-6198.jpg?v=1789994792","url":"https:\/\/lostowl.com\/products\/19th-century-italian-coral-peasant-bracelet","provider":"Lost Owl Jewelry","version":"1.0","type":"link"}