A splendid find! It's so rare to find wonderful old demi-parure or jewelry sets still together, and rarer still to find them still in their original presentation box. This fabulous set is both. The rare architectural theme of the hand carved and very large brooch and bracelet is also of great interest and rare to find. I suspect someone will recognize the architecture, the castles or palaces, and from that we'll know if the set is English or perhaps German. Beautifully preserved, all pieces are here, intact in full, no chips or losses that I can find. I think they've never been worn from the look of it. The bracelet is the type carved in pieces and then assembled with a stretchy stringing, sometimes of silk or horsehair 'rope', or later restrung with elastic. This elastic stringing may or may not be original, but I suspect not. Yet it is so old it has no elasticity to it anymore, so if you're thinking of wearing this museum quality set, you'll want to restring it with a bit of stretching elastic, either regular or the clear newer type made for modern jewelry makers. Either can be had at any crafts store. I will leave it as it is, since it's not a flaw, as such, and it will be up to the next owner to decide if it will be worn, restrung, etc. or just displayed. This quality carving can be seen in the jewelry collections on display in the British Museum, and also V&A in London. This one is certainly finer than many on display there, and could find its way into the most sophisticated collection. No finer!
Very good to excellent condition, with the rarity of being all original to the box in which it was first sold. The box and the jewelry are all in fine form. I see no chips, no cracks, no age or shrinkage hairlines or losses at all to report. Apart from needing a new stretchy stringing if you wish to wear it, it's truly pristine. Fabulous architectural carvings on each of the pieces. If you recognize them, please email us, will you? Pin back is also in fine form, as visible in our photos.
