A Coral Necklace

This is based on the necklace worn by the youngest sister in Sofonisba Anguissola's "The Chess Game" of 1555.

[1]

I still had coral left over from my girdle - just enough to make the necklace - and appropriate silver beads to alternate with. I put it together using modern components: tiger tail wire, crimping beads, and a screw together closure. I would like to learn about period jewellery making techniques and what sort of closures would be appropriate, but I also just wanted a pretty necklace that I could put together quickly. I made it wide enough that I can still wear it over a high necked gown. This means that if I'm wearing it with an open necked gown, it sits a little looser and lower than small necklaces like this seem to be worn, but I think I'll mostly be wearing it with high necked gowns so I decided it was fine.

[1] From Wikimedia

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