A timeless and enduring classic, the graduated coral beads necklace has been in fashion for nearly two centuries. This luscious example is carved from peachy pastel salmon colored Mediterranean coral, with lovely lighter colored striations throughout. The color, variations, and presence of small dark pits in some beads lead me to believe that this coral is very likely "Sciacca" coral- a naturally fossilized variation of Mediterranean coral that was discovered off of the coast of Sciacca, Italy, in the 1870s. These coral deposits consisted of branches of Mediterranean coral, broken off and brought to the same place by sea currents over hundreds and thousands of years, where underwater volcanic activity "burned" the coral, creating beautiful and unusual colors and patterns. Of course, I cannot guarantee this is Sciacca, but the color and luster is consistent with verified examples in my collection. The beads show the hallmarks of hand carving, with slight irregularities and asymmetry.
This necklace is in excellent condition and has been professionally restrung on period appropriate silk cord, with its original gold fill or gilded base metal barrel clasp. There are visible "imperfections" in the coral, such as darker pits, but these are natural features, not flaws. The necklace measures 22" long, with the smallest beads measuring 4 mm and the largest bead measuring 7.75 mm.
