Karen Smith, a contemporary American artisan, refers to herself as a "knotter of miniature tapestry adornments." She designs knotting patterns in washable nylon thread and integrates them with gemstones. This particular necklace is composed of a serpentine dragon carving with amethyst, turquoise, black onyx, jade and goldstone beads. It is hand signed Karen Smith '06 on the back. It is a remarkable and outstanding artwork! I measures 28" end to end (measured using the inside string of beads).

This early Valentino Garavani necklace has a single strand of irregular black glass beads. They are 5/8" (1.5 cm) in diameter and are hand knotted. Including the clasp, the necklace is 17 1/4" (44 cm) long. The center tassel hangs from a pave gold metal ring that holds a black enamel ring that holds the pave and black enamel top. From the pave ring to the black beads at the bottom, the 16 strand tassel is 6" (14.5 cm) long...

Fabulous statement size heavy couture link necklace by long time Chanel jewelry designer Robert Goossens, made under his own line of jewelry. 1980s or early 1990s. Marked GOOSSENS on the metal tag on the extender chain, and GOOSSENS PARIS on the clasp. Weighty and substantial shiny goldtone metal with brilliant Swarovski strass rhinestones. It weighs 272 grams. 18 inches wearable length and 1 5/8 inches wide at center. Excellent condition and all stones are brilliant and better than the pictures...

Elegant and dramatic Judith Leiber. Flat chains support beautifully designed panels which are chunky and very three dimensional. Judith Leiber signature is on the reverse side. Length from clasp to bottom of pendant is 18 1/4". Pendant width 1 7/8".

Fabulous statement size vintage 1980s tribal style necklace by Italian designer Donatella Pellini. Black glass beads with dark silvertone mountings suspend a large pendant with huge faceted faux amber bead and an ornate repousse two sided drop. With smaller matching amber bead. Marked PELLINI at the screw barrel clasp. I am also listing two separate pairs of Pellini earrings which coordinate with this necklace, from the same estate. Pictures are not capturing this fabulous weighty piece...

Dramatic sterling silver necklace featuring 5 lock escutcheons and 2 keys, by noted designer Jessica Kagan Cushman. Necklace length 17", pendants vary in size, each roughly 2" x 1 1/2". Signed on attached tag and on backs of pendants with designer's initials. Necklace and pendants are sterling, unmarked, but guaranteed silver...

Gorgeous hand made necklace, possibly a studio piece, with clusters of briolette cut colorless rock crystal drops, and large black onyx beads, with hematite drops and beads, and sterling silver toggle clasp, strung on fine wire. It weighs 260 grams. 19 1/2 inches wearable length and 1 1/4 inches wide. Excellent condition. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.

I have said in the past that Erika Hult de Corral is one of the few designers in the world of Mexican silver jewelry for whom I will cross the 1980 threshold without second thoughts. I believe that her talent and the quality of her work combined with the fact that she is one of the few known female contributors to the country’s 20th c. Silver Renaissance more than warrants the… “transgression”...

Spectacular unusual vintage couture necklace, probably 1980s, in dark silvertone metal with a variety of large multi color glass stones in different shapes, all prong set, with hook clasp and extender. With a center chain form riviere with clear stones and attached large stones in blue, olive green, teal green, red, purple, and topaz, along the sides. The largest stones are openback and unfoiled. Not sure of the origin of this piece -- possibly Italian or French. Substantial at 111 grams...

A veritable show-stopper, this fine, .950 silver Mexican pendant combines brutalist elements with a classic Aztec Revival, beautifully carved obsidian "mask". Signed by Fernando Alvarez Mendez Mateo of Taxco, it was crafted in the post-1980 period yet is exhibits such craftsmanship, I wouldn't have been surprised if I had found an Eagle mark on it...

Chic statement 1980s Stephen Dweck chunky statement necklace with large carved beads including gray agate, leopard jasper, citrine, smoky quartz, carnelian, carved horn, and Chinese or Japanese carved wood ojime style beads with stylized reptiles. Bronze clasp marked STEPHEN DWECK. Strung on thin flexible wire. 17 inches wearable length and 1 inch wide at center. Excellent condition. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.

Fabulous 1980s signed Monies torsade necklace with multi strands of coconut shell beads, with many attached drops in clear Lucite, pale yellow Lucite, carved coconut shell, carved wood, and also with natural seashell drops, with Monies signature style carved dark brown horn hook clasp. Marked GERDA LYNGGAARD MONIES on attached metal tag. 16 inches wearable length and 2 1/2 to 3 inches wide. Excellent condition. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.

Gorgeous vintage 1980s French necklace in heavy cast goldtone metal in a burnished matte finish. Very dimensional, detailed, and finely finished. Marked VERONIQUE CHERANICH PARIS. Designed in the Etruscan or barbaric revival style popularized by long time Chanel jewelry designer Robert Goossens. This is possibly a Goossens design. Box slide clasp. 16 inches wearable length and 1 3/8 inches wide. Excellent condition. Display form is life. Photos enlarged to show detail.

Fabulous statement size modernist French necklace with a fixed pendant mounted in sculpted dark silvertone metal with a large carved horn drop, on a beige gray fabric cord with matching hook clasp. Marked LA TRIBU RIGAUX (The Tribal Queen) and FRANCE. Circa 1990. Wearable length is 23 inches and the center drops 4 1/2 inches. Excellent condition. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.

Gorgeous big statement 1980s necklace in soft goldtone metal with wired deeply textured balls and very ornately detailed bamboo form oversized hook clasp with decorated chain and decorative tab. All surfaces of the elements very finely finished and detailed. The elements are hollow and made in segments. The piece is weighty and substantial at 191 grams. French, based on the design and construction. Great size -- 19 inches wearable length on inside strand and 2 inches wide. Excellent condition...

Chic signed 1980s necklace by Gerda Lynggaard for Monies with clear Lucite closure and black fabric strands, in a lariat style which can be worn several ways. Marked GERDA LYNGGAARD MONIES. Wearable length is up to about 18 inches and the drop is up to about 10 inches. The clasp is 3 inches wide. Excellent condition. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.

Gorgeous very big statement size 1980s couture necklace with an asymmetrical cascade of pale creamy beige shells with a soft matte finish, strung on matching cord and on a cord wrapped collar with silvertone extender chain and hook clasp. The top front has two matching shell buttons on either side of a large center shell. Probably Italian...

Gorgeous huge signed Escada necklace in heavy shiny cast goldtone metal with fired enameled flower form drops in very pale green with small white center cabochons that feel like plastic. Marked ESCADA. This piece was issued in 1992. Weighty and substantial at 293 grams. 16 1/2 inches wearable length and the bib drops 3 inches. Excellent condition with some finish loss at the clasp only, from storage, pictured but will not be noticeable when worn. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to sho...

Gorgeous vintage 1980s torsade necklace with multi strands of glass based faux pearls, and a fabulous toggle clasp in heavy sterling silver with pave gold marcasites. Not marked but the metal tests positive for sterling silver with jewelers acid. Very substantial at 137 grams. Wearable length is 17 inches. Excellent condition and appears rarely or never worn. From an estate with a large quantity of 1970s through 1990s couture jewelry, most never worn. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged t...

Fabulous vintage 1980s Jose and Maria Barrera signed bracelet with matching necklace, both from the same estate, in goldtone metal with heavy very flexible snake chains, in a modernist design. The bracelet is marked BARRERA on both ends. The necklace is not marked but the snake chains match the bracelet exactly in size, weight, and color, and again, these two pieces are from the same estate. The bracelet has a pin slide close and the necklace has a hook close with a decorative flower form cover ...

Chic statement circa 1990 necklace and matching clip earrings in silvertone metal with very detailed frogs with dark decorative oxidation. The necklace has finely woven metal mesh and an oversized spring ring clasp. All pieces are marked CABOT. Earrings are 1 inch long and necklace is 19 inches long and 1 inch wide at the terminals. Excellent condition. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.

Fabulous very big statement size necklace with genuine lapis lazuli beads slightly graduated, hand knotted with blue thread, and with embedded gold hook clasp. Vintage, probably a handmade studio piece. The lapis is gemologist verified. The clasp tests positive for 14KT gold with jeweler's acid. The beads are a gorgeous subtle dark variegated gray blue with veils of silver and gold pyrite adding sparkle and shimmer. Very heavy at 486 grams/17 ounces. Great size -- the center largest bead is 23mm...

Three very large graduated wood beaded necklaces, all from the same Philadelphia estate, to wear together or separately. All are strung on heavy cord in coordinating colors with matching beads at the ends of the cord. Each is 36 inches long and 1 inch wide at center. Excellent condition. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.

Gorgeous vintage 1980s four strand torsade necklace mounted in heavy cast slightly matte goldtone metal with iridescent polyhedron glass beads in a violet purple blue color that changes from warm to cool depending on the light. With Givenchy logo on metal tag at the terminal. Hook clasp. 16 1/2 inches wearable length and 2 inches wide. Excellent condition. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.

Chic minimalist statement size 1980s or earlier couture necklace in black Lucite with polished large beads and a matte solid bib collar, with a dark goldtone slide clasp. 21 inches wearable length adn the center drops 2 3/4 inches. Excellent condition with some very minimal marks on the matte collar, pictured but not noticeable at a short distance. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.

Vintage unsigned Gerda Lynggaard Monies necklace in beige coconut shell with dark brown carved horn terminals and hook close. Not marked, as is common with Monies jewelry but this necklace in particular is very recognizable as Monies. 19 1/2 inches wearable length and about 3 1/2 inches wide. Excellent condition. Display form is life. Photos enlarged to show detail.

Fabulous very weighty and substantial 1980s unsigned Yves Saint Laurent necklace in goldtone with five tiers of braided chains each centering a fixed brilliant Swarovski glass stone pendant in a different jewel tone and shape. With a heavy sculpted S hook clasp and sculpted terminals. Not marked but I have seen this necklace with one additional strand, marked Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche with an attached metal hang tag (I also had a duplicate of this same fabulous necklace a couple of ...

Chic vintage modernist asymmetrical necklace in hammered goldtone metal links with lobster clasp. 1980s. Marked CECILE JEANNE PARIS. Great easy to wear piece for day or evening. 15 1/2 inches wearable length and the longest drop is 6 1/2 inches long. A medium weight piece at 76 grams. Excellent condition. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.

Chic super heavy and substantial vintage 1980s curb or moto chain belt in shiny goldtone metal with two hooks for draping, in the style of the iconic Chanel chain belts. Also can be worn as a necklace. Great size -- 52 inches total length and 1/2 inch wide. Excellent condition. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.

Spectacular bib necklace by Kenneth Lane in dark silvertone metal with very big aqua and peridot green openback unfoiled glass stones and small brilliant clear stones, all prong set, in an 18th century style. Marked KENNETH LANE. Circa 1990. 18 inches wearable length and 2 3/8 inches wide. Excellent condition with one tiny stone at the clasp a bit darkened. All other stones are brilliant. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.

Luminous 1980s Yves Saint Laurent drop necklace in goldtone metal with softly faceted peridot green resin cushion shaped stones spaced with chunky dimensional triangular links, and a center drop with a teardrop shaped green stone. Marked YSL, MADE IN FRANCE, and also numbered E8. 18 inches wearable length. The sides are just over 3/4 inch wide. The center drops 2 3/8 inches. Excellent condition. Two of the stones on close inspection (pictured) show slight glue lines under the backing of ...

Beautiful YSL sautoir Byzantine or Renaissance style necklace to wear alone or layer with other similar sautoirs. Circa 1980, in dark slightly matte goldtone metal with large poured glass beads in pale pink and dark fuschia red. Also with ornate basket weave design metal beads. With YSL signature link. Continuous strand with no clasp. 36 inches long and 1/2 inch wide at the widest point (dark pink beads). Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail. Display form is life size....

Incredible monumental tribal style bib necklace by Masha Archer with long double layered strands of Chinese turquoise beads, red and blue glass chevron beads, and goldtone and silvertone cast metal openwork beads, dropping from an engraved silvertone metal collar with an elephant motif, with multi strands of matching red and blue glass beads, and metal beads, attaching to the collar. Marked MASHA ARCHER SAN FRANCISCO and numbered. 1990s. Each ring attached to the collar has two strands of beads....

Beautiful French necklace with large clear Lucite beads mounted in very ornate French stamped openwork dark silvertone metal in a Medieval style. Marked MONETTE OF PARIS on goldtone metal tag. With long extender chain with heavy small S shaped links. The Lucite beads are molded in traditional French shapes, including oblong melon and ruffle shapes. Continuous strand. 48 inches wearable length. The longest beads are 1 1/2 inches long. The large center bead is 1 inch in diameter. Excel...

From France, stunning pendant necklace by French designer Isabel Canovas in dark goldtone metal with Gripoix poured glass cabochons in green and blue. 1980s, marked ISABEL CANOVAS. The large pendant is fixed on a chain made from reeded links with a watch clip clasp and oversized jump ring with repousse decoration. The pendant is a quatrefoil shape with recessed decoration and an attached drop. The pendant is 4 inches long and 2 7/8 inches wide and wearable length is 28 inches. Excell...

Fabulous 1980s season 23 signed Chanel long sautoir with green poured glass Gripoix stones and brilliant colorless strass stones. Stones and settings are double sided in classic Chanel style. The strass stones have quilt form decoration on the sides of their settings. The chain links have very decorative detailing as well. With oversized spring ring clasp and fob type clasp, so it can be connected in different configurations. Great for layering with other long necklaces.I am listing...