This is an expressive vintage and collectible piece by Schiaparelli from the 1950s-60s. The pendant's distinctive style elements include: a baroquely expressive design with a massive, irregularly shaped frame reminiscent of natural forms - typical of Mid-century Schiaparelli jewelry; a large, teardrop-shaped central crystal; a matte greenish cabochon-type glass (reminiscent of a cat's eye); a golden, textured surface - typical of the period when jewelry was shaped to imitate organic structures (branches, coral, bark). This surrealist-inspired modeling of forms, which is characteristic of the true Schiaparelli style, makes this pendant a dramatic work of art, valued by collectors. Elsa Schiaparelli (France and the United States, 1930–1973) considered jewelry to be an integral part of fashion design and an art form in its own right. The designer's early work, reflecting her interest in nature and surrealism, is often described as whimsical, exotic, or highly stylized. Surrealist artists and Schiaparelli's friends Salvador Dali, Jean Cocteau, and Christian Bérard created several pieces for her. Jewelry produced in the 1950s featured unusual and often highly colorful designs, stones, and glass.
More information: www.schiaparelli.com/en/21-place-vendome/the-story-of-the-house/
