The sweetest mid-sized antique acorn, newly converted into a pendant and one of two coordinating examples created from the same original piece. This is the smaller of the pair.
Its softly rounded lower section is fashioned from luminous green nephrite jade and edged with a glittering collar of fully faceted rock crystal. An intricately carved cap of olive-green nephrite jade completes the acorn, its crosshatched design recreating the wonderfully organic texture of a real acorn cupule.
This acorn originally formed one of a pair of drops suspended from an antique jade and rock crystal necklace. In its complete original form, the necklace bore a remarkable resemblance to a documented circa-1910 sautoir by New Zealand jeweller Frank Hyams, composed of pounamu and rock crystal beads and suspending two similarly stylised acorns. This piece is unsigned, and no attribution to Frank Hyams can be confirmed; however, the close similarity provides a fascinating point of comparison and supports the identification of the jade as possibly New Zealand pounamu. It remains in excellent antique condition.
The original gold fitting runs through the centre of the acorn, finishing in a tiny gold bead at the base before twisting around the fitting at the top. This original metal tests as 9ct gold. I have added a new, chunky 18ct gold bail, carefully selected to retain the pendant’s petite proportions while allowing it to be worn from finer chains, clasps and charm holders. The bail is suitable for charm holders and clasps measuring under approximately 2mm thick; please note that it may not accommodate particularly thick clasps or chunky charm holders.
Small but wonderfully distinctive, it is perfect for adding a playful touch of colour and texture to an antique neck stack.
