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Coppola e Toppo Masterpiece, White & Black Beaded Ruffled Necklace on Hold NWS 15-1456 ~ Of course you know that every necklace made by Lyda Coppola and her brother, Bruno Toppo, is an individual work of art. The handwork involved in making just one piece is daunting. Lyda Coppola made her professional debut in Paris in 1948 with her jewelry created for Jacques Fath and Elsa Schiaparelli. In the 1950's she struck off on her own, and, in collaboration with her brother, they began creating their own line of jewelry. This necklace was made by Coppola e Toppo in Milan, Italy, in the 1960's, their heyday. ~ Joyful and frothy, the necklace is a stunning celebration of the best of vintage costume jewelry. It has been strung around the neckline with strands of clear crystal beads of increasing lengths, shading into gray beads and black multi-faceted spheres. As you can see, strands sometimes overlap each other, which is a classic design element of this maker. The effect is "ruffled" – feminine and chic. ~ Coppola e Toppo often mixed beads of plastic and crystal, otherwise the weight of these creations would be intolerable to wear. One cannot tell the difference by looking at the necklace. If you want to distinguish which ones are plastic and which are crystal, hold an individual bead against your cheek. If it's cold, it's glass. If it's room temperature, it's plastic. Coppola e Toppo have managed to mix the two together so subtly, the only way to tell is to use this test. And thank heavens, because this beaded bib would be frightfully heavy. ~ Also, note the way the necklace lies in the shape of a perfect ruffled collar. This is because the dangles are actually sewn together (using tiny back seed beads), so that the strands splay outwards in perfect array. ~ Another aspect to consider is the way the colors are gently gradated from light to dark. Smokey crystal beads have been incorporated, so that the gradation from white to black is gradual but retains is artistic impact. ~ The necklace measures 16.5" at the neckline. Each dangling strand varies in length from .75" long near the clasps to 4" long at the center. ~ The necklace closes with the famous heart-shaped clasps at either end (her trademark). One heart has a hook and the other a loop. If you want to have this necklace lengthened, it would be easy to have an extension chain put on by your jeweler. – On the reverse of the clasp, it is signed "MADE IN ITALY BY Coppola E Toppo". c. 1960, in perfect condition, an incomparable work of art, one in a million. Research: Featured in the book, European Designer Jewelry, by Ginger Moro, p. 198. Price = $2,400.00on Hold Safe Shopping Guarantee nex 3, a-c, masterpcs
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