Birks - Art Deco German Sterling Silver Paste Pendant & Chain (ADP025)
Birks - Art Deco German Sterling Silver Paste Pendant & Chain. This exquisite pendant is crafted from sterling silver, hallmarked Sterling, Birks, and Germany. Featuring numerous round cut paste gemstones, Art Deco era styling, and quality workmanship. The chain is hallmarked 925, and Italy. This lovely antique pendant is beautifully crafted with expertly bead set and bezel set jewels. The diamond paste is clear, bright and sparkly. The chain is a vintage belcher link design, which looks perfect with the pendant. The chain features a secure spring ring clasp, which is in perfect working order. This Art Deco pendant exudes femininity and elegance, such a beautiful piece! Comments: Art Deco era pieces made by Birks are a rare find. Beautiful design, and a quality piece. History: Paste jewellery dates back to France during the 18th century when a jeweller named Georges Frederic Stras began hand crafting fine-quality Paste jewellery in 1724. He was quickly then appointed as “Jeweller to the King”, and began making Paste jewellery for King Louis XV of France. Silver's history is long. The first evidence of silver mining dates back to 3000 B.C., in Turkey and Greece, according to the RSC. Ancient people even figured out how to refine silver. ... The silver does not react to the air, but the base metals such as lead and copper oxidize and separate from the precious metal. The term sterling silver denotes any silver alloy in which pure silver makes up at least 92.5 percent of the content. One theory is that the word sterling comes from the name Easterlings—coiners from east German states brought to England during the reign of Henry II (1154–89) to improve the quality of the coinage. Birks group traces its origins to the opening by Harry Birks of a small jewelry shop in Montreal in 1879. In December 1934 Birks opened its first store in Vancouver. In 1954 , the first Canadian shopping centre opened in Dorval and Birks is the first to open a jewelry store within a shopping centre. Measurements: Pendant (including the bale) 40.00 mm x 14.00 mm Chain 18" Stone Size: Paste .005 mm - 2.00 mm Weight: 4.80 grams Condition: Excellent Origin: Germany Provenance: Canada, made for Birks. Date: Circa 1920