Necklace c. 1875 - 1885

This ornate necklace, made by Névillé, presents us with intriguing questions about the value of materials, and the labor of production. Look closely, and you'll see that it combines gold and silver filigree with inset cameos, likely made of glass or perhaps a semi-precious stone. These elements are carefully integrated, requiring immense dexterity and skill in metalworking, gem-cutting and design. The gold and silver are fashioned into delicate openwork, creating a sense of lightness and luxury. These materials would have been sourced globally through complex trade networks. The cameos, each depicting a classical scene, are a potent symbol of status, made accessible through mass production. Consider the many hands involved in creating such an object, from the miners extracting raw materials to the artisans crafting the final piece. This necklace invites us to reflect on the relationship between craft, consumption, and the complex economies of desire.