Museum Quality Trochus Shell and Coral Sweetheart Necklace Designer Jewelry. > Stunningly gorgeous Antique Trochus shell and coral necklace. This beauty is fashioned like a tribal wedding necklace or lei in that it has multiple pieces dangling for movement. The Trochus shell is found in the Indian sea and was prized for its spectacular iridescent color, much like an opal with flashes of green and pink. The islanders collected the shells and would fashion them into artwork and jewelry for the sailors to give their sweethearts back home, so they became referred to as “Sailor’s Valentines”. This necklace is in excellent condition with no missing bits or broken shells. The construction is very intricate as each Trochus shell is threaded with a head pin and fastened to an adjoining link. The branch coral pieces are threaded in triplets and attached at 1 intervals giving the piece added interest and contrasting color. The overall length when laid out end to end is 15 1/4 but it can easily be lengthened with the addition of a bit of chain on the back. The antique links resemble a double hook and eye design. The links are constructed of some sort of copper colored metal that has some oxidation to it which is indicative of age. This is an amazing piece of history. This was made for a very special sweetheart.. According to Wikipedia, “These valentines” were originally made between 1830 and 1890, and they were designed to be brought home from a sailor’s voyage at sea and given to the sailor’s loved one or loved ones. They continued to be popular between the world wars. Please see my OTHER AUCTIONS this week for some incredible vintage and designer jewelry , antiques, Chinese items and fresh estate finds. Good Luck and thanks for looking! The item “Extremely RARE Antique Sweetheart Iridescent Trochus Shell & Red Coral Necklace” is in sale since Thursday, January 26, 2017. This item is in the category “Jewelry & Watches\Vintage & Antique Jewelry\Vintage Ethnic/Regional/Tribal\Other Vintage Ethnic Jewelry”. The seller is “dejavuantiques” and is located in Lake Oswego, Oregon. This item can be shipped to United States, to Canada, to United Kingdom, DK, RO, SK, BG, CZ, FI, HU, LV, LT, MT, EE, to Australia, GR, PT, CY, SI, to Japan, to China, SE, KR, ID, to Taiwan, ZA, TH, to Belgium, to France, to Hong Kong, to Ireland, to Netherlands, PL, to Spain, to Italy, to Germany, to Austria, RU, IL, to Mexico, to New Zealand, PH, SG, NO, SA, UA, AE, QA, KW, BH, HR, MY, BR, CL, CO.
- Jewelry Type: Necklace, Pendant
- Metal: Mixed Metals
- Main Stone: Coral and Shell
- Country/Region of Manufacture: Australia