VERSAILLE'S GOLD

Venetian 24kt gold beads, Vintage Topaz AB Swarovski Crystal, Metal Findings, Accuflex

Gail traveled to Italy and handpicked each of the 24kt beads from a fourth generation Venetian owned jewelry factory.  Each bead is still being individually handmade by craftswomen using the same recipe for over 800 years. 

The vintage Swarovski crystal beads are in pristine condition and were manufactured in Austria between 1920 - 1938 and 1945 - 1954. To prove their authenticity, Be has the honor of taking them directly from their original packages.

A few hours into the first photo session of my Museum Pieces the photographer’s assistant drew in his breath when the model came out wearing this necklace.  Obviously moved, he leaned over to me without taking his eyes off of it and whispered “How long does something like that take you to make?”  I felt so proud—that my art could actually make someone awestruck.  The 24kt gold leaf in this piece explodes when you walk into the light.  It is a full 11 inches at it’s longest point so it needs to be warn by a very tall, blessed-with-a-long-neck-woman.  This is the only Museum Piece I have ever duplicated and that’s because, even though I don’t have the height to wear it, I love just looking at this necklace on it’s neck form as a piece of art and history.