DATE: Victorian, c.1860

A pair of antique coral beads with a couple of probablies attached... They were probably purchased on the Italian leg of some young English aristocrat's "Grand Tour", and probably intended as a mother's and daughter's matching set. The longer double strand fits at 17 inches, and the smaller graduated single strand is (a distinctly child-sized) 13.75 inches in length. The beads are well matched across both necklaces, both in terms of colour and their slightly irregular shape, suggesting the pair have been together for the whole of the past ~162 years. 

STONES 

Natural coral

MEASUREMENTS 

Double strand: 17 inches wearable

Single strand: 13.75 inches wearable

Beads range from 3.1mm to 6.4mm

MARKS 

No marks present. Barrel clasp tests as 9ct gold, double clasp as gold plated

CONDITION 

Very good