Mid Century faux pearl drop necklace by Rousselet

Reminiscent of the Art Deco era, this fabulous faux pearl necklace is by Louis Rousselet and dates from around the 1950s.

The gossamer silvertone chain is made up of Rousselet’s signature ‘paper clip’ links interrupted by tiny faux pearls. At the front the links merge into a cobweb of faux pearls with geometric styling evocative of the 1920s. The stunning feature pearl drop at the centre is both bold and delicate, with an imposing 18 mm faux pearl capped by an etched silvertone ‘tulip’.

The necklace measures 37 cm and the pearl drop is 5.5 cm. It fastens with a bolt ring clasp

Louis Rousselet was a French beadmaker and jewellery designer who founded the Rousselet Company in Paris in the 1920s. He became one of the outstanding beadmakers of the twentieth century, producing handmade polished lampwork beads, often with baroque shapes to emphasize their individuality and always of exceptional quality. His faux pearls were glass beads coated with ‘Essence d’Orient’ (meaning pearl essence) to create a lustrous and iridescent sheen resembling pearls.

From 1920 to the early 1970s Louis Rousselet was one of France’s most revered jewellers. His designs were showcased by stars of the Folies Bergere and Moulin Rouge as well as leading fashion houses including Coco Chanel, Jacques Fath and Pierre Balmain.