1950s Blue Peking Glass Graduated Beaded Necklace

Dating from the late 1950s to early 1960s, this necklace is formed from a single strand of substantial spherical and ellipsoid Peking glass beads, hand-threaded onto knotted blue silk cord and designed to emulate the rich colour and depth of lapis lazuli.

Peking glass is an opaque decorative glass first produced in Beijing during the Qing dynasty for the Imperial court. By the twentieth century, it had become a popular material for high-quality costume jewellery and it was frequently used to imitate hardstones such as jade, turquoise and lapis lazuli.

The beads have a beautifully mottled finish, swirling together shades of cobalt and baby blue with flecks of turquoise and black, giving each one a unique appearance. The necklace fastens with a silver-tone hook-and-eye clasp, which secures to an adjustable chain threaded with matching blue beads, allowing the length to be varied slightly.

The necklace is in excellent vintage condition with only light signs of wear consistent with its age.

MEASUREMENTS

LENGTH - 25.5 in. (65 cm)

DROP - 11 in. (28 cm)