Wiese Necklace Egyptian Revival 18k Gold Emerald Natural Pearl Signed (6570)

Antique Victorian Chain and Pendant Necklace. 18k yellow gold, pearl, emerald. Made in France by Louis Wiese, 19th century. Signed. Unisex - can be worn by a man or a woman.

Measurements: Length of chain approximately 22 1/4 inches (57cm), not including the pendant drop (which adds about 3 more inches to the length). Span of wings is 4 1/2 cm (1 3/4 inches). Weighs 4.8 grams.

Description :

The long chain is a work of art, combining combines solidity, design and fluid artistry. It reaches a ring at the bottom, attached to a pair of Egyptian symbolic gods in the form of exotic birds, mirror images facing away from each other and overlapping each other, the bale formed by the double crowns on their heads. The loop that their tails form where they overlap suspends a lovely oval pearl (not tested, but believed to be a natural pearl). A pair of gold chains forks from this area and suspends a superb pendant. The pendant is in the form of a goddess, possibly Nut or Isis, kneeling on a triangular base, arms outstretched and suspending the stretched out wings. On the head is a cabochon emerald. The workmanship is exquisite: Superb moulding and detail. A similar goddess is to be found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is shown in the last picture. 

The pendant is removable. It is attached via a pin that runs through a hollow channel and can be removed. Curved hook allows the pendant to be worn independently as an enhancer without the rest of this chain. Versatile, transformable jewelry is exceedingly rare and another example of the wonderful quality of the workmanship. 

This necklace came from a wonderful collection of jewelry owned by a French gentleman collector. It is unisex - suitable to be worn by either a man or a woman.

Marks:

 Signed WIESE on the back of the pendant. French eagle head indicates 18k gold.

Condition:

Excellent. Please see enlarged pictures and don't hesitate to ask questions which we will do our best to answer. 

Came from the collection of a Parisienne gentleman amassed mid 20th century.

THE STORY:

For hundreds of years, the world has been fascinated with Ancient Egypt. 
Following Napoleon Bonaparte's campaigns in Egypt, there was a huge mania for Egypt-related jewelry in France.
With the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, there was an even bigger resurgence of this passion. Even jewelers like Castellani, who generally focused on the Ancient Greeks and Etruscans, made fabulous jewelry set with micro mosaics as echoes and in homage to the Ancient Egyptians. Most of us will never see a Castellani micro mosaic in the Ancient Egyptian style, but there are some available by other makers such as out brooch #6840 with Pharoah portraits. Other fabulous jewels, enameled, set with gems, in a variety of materials from wood to gold and platinum, show the range of influence of Ancient Egypt.
Louis Comfort Tiffany, who toured in Egypt as a young man was greatly influenced by Ancient Egypt both in his early jewelry and in the making of glass.
Egyptian Revival jewelry received its greatest boost after 1922, when Howard Carter discovered King Tutenkhamun's tomb.

Some Egyptian Revival jewelry is accurate in its depiction of hieroglyphics and other Egyptian symbols.
Some of the most interesting jewelry from the late 19th century in this style incorporate actual Ancient Egyptian items - medallions, faience, scarabs into their gold mounts.
Most Egyptian Revival jewels are more decorative, using the symbols of snakes, cats, sphynxes, pharoahs and scarabs in a more decorative fashion.