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Thumbnail-size images of copyrighted artworks are displayed under fair use, in accordance with guidelines recommended by the Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for the Visual Arts, published by the College Art Association in February 2015.
Necklace
Marcus & Co. (American, 1892–1941)
1900
Medium/Technique
Gold, opal, diamond (1.65 carats), demantoid garnet (1.5 carats), enamel
Dimensions
Diameter: 21.6 cm (8 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Barbara L. and Theodore B. Alfond
Accession Number2020.556
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsJewelry / Adornment – Necklaces and neck bands
During the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, Marcus & Co. rivaled Tiffany & Co. as a leading American retailer of fine jewelry. Showcasing jewelry with a wide range of styles and influences, the firm’s work demonstrates the diverse tastes of American consumers. This necklace, made around 1900, is a strong example of the eclecticism seen in the jewelry retailed by Marcus & Co. Its combination of materials, design, and craftsmanship references the quintessential markers of the firm. For example, the colors of the opal are beautifully mirrored in the choice of green and blue enamel.
DescriptionNecklace with five oval fire opal drops. Each opal is framed in gold and enamel surrounded by four round European-cut diamonds and four demantoid garnets. The chain features blue and green enamel rosettes with alternating diamond and garnet accents in the center.
ProvenanceBy 1996, sold by Nelson Rarities, Portland, ME to Barbara and Theodore Alfond, Weston, MA; 2020, gift of Barbara and Theodore Alfond to the MFA. (Accession Date: December 16, 2020)