Louis Rousselet Red Glass & Faux Pearl Necklace
A wonderfully dramatic French costume necklace attributed to Louis Rousselet, combining vivid scarlet-red glass beads, lustrous faux pearls and elaborate silver-tone metalwork. The long, articulated design and beautifully contrasting colours give the necklace all the glamour and exuberance associated with mid-century Parisian costume jewellery.
Details
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Designer: Attributed to Louis Rousselet
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Date: Circa 1940s–1950s
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Origin: France
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Materials: Glass beads, faux pearls and silver-tone metal
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Colour: Vivid scarlet red, pearl cream and silver
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Length: 72cm end to end
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Construction: Articulated bead and metal-link construction with decorative chain sections
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Fastening: none
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Marks: none
Condition
Excellent condition, with light signs of age and wear consistent with a piece of this period.
Any minor variations to the surface of the beads, faux pearls and metalwork are consistent with vintage costume jewellery and contribute to the character of the piece.
Please refer closely to the photographs, which form part of the description.
History
Louis Rousselet was a highly regarded Parisian maker of costume jewellery whose workshop became particularly known for beautifully made glass beads and imitation pearls. Working in Paris during the twentieth century, Rousselet produced jewellery both under his own name and for some of the leading French fashion and couture houses.
His pieces are admired for their rich colour, elaborate construction and exceptional quality, transforming glass, simulated pearls and metal components into jewellery with the presence and glamour of much more precious materials.
This necklace is particularly evocative of Rousselet’s aesthetic, with its bold red beads, creamy faux pearls, decorative silver-tone elements and multiple fine chains creating an elaborate, distinctly French appearance.
Heritage House Note
This is exactly the sort of vintage costume jewellery we love at Heritage House: wonderfully decorative, beautifully constructed and enormous fun to wear. The fabulous scarlet red against the creamy pearls makes this a true statement necklace — as striking with a simple white shirt today as it would have been with an evening dress in mid-century Paris.
