Featured Neiger necklace question

I never heard of Neiger until KSW posted the scarab necklace and there were photos of Neiger necklaces. I have this partial necklace that I think is Neiger. There is one side of the clasp remaining and it says Czechoslovakia. Two questions, really. Do you think it is Neiger and, how much of the necklace do you think is missing? What would be a typical length? I used to get old necklaces and take the beads to use in earrings and necklaces that I made and sold. Pieces like this were so lovely I didn't want to take them apart and always thought I'd somehow repair them to wear. That was 30 years ago and now I just have boxes and bins of this stuff. This is 13" in length currently. The front and back of all the beads including the center piece are exactly the same.

 

SO pretty.....LOVE the color!!!! What's the 'around the neck' remaining portion length?? But can't help otherwise..... @Any Jewelry???

 

I would say it is Neiger period Egyptian Revival, 1930s.
The Neiger brothers were designers who commissioned components from manufacturers. But they also bought ready made components, findings and beads to be made into necklaces and typical Neiger jewellery.
The Neigers were among the first to manufacture Egyptian Revival jewellery in Czechoslovakia, but they did not manufacture beads themselves.
Other designers also used those ready made components and beads, which makes it difficult to say if a bead necklace is by Neiger.
Neiger brooches and other jewellery with metal components are much easier to identify.
You can only say for certain a beaded necklace is Neiger, if you know it is shown in a Neiger catalogue. I don't know if this one is, maybe one of our sleuths can find out.

 

If I stretch it out, it measures 13" from the clasp to the far end with just beads.

 

Looks Neiger to me. A cracker, that is.

 

If the side with the broken off end matches the side with the other side of the clasp, probably all that's missing is the tongue side of the clasp & a couple of the little green beads.

 

I'm thinking 13" plus a couple more beads still would make it pretty tight around the neck......at least for me......and I'm no heavyweight.........but I still think it's lovely!! For me I think more like 20" would be nice! So, if one balances adding the number of beads and green spacers on the right to the left, plus the clasp, I'm betting it would come to about 18 or so inches.....nice!!!

 

You could extend it by adding chain either side. That would work nicely.

 

Or maybe a row of those green beads. Those could be in your boxes and bins somewhere.

 

It seems to me that it's missing at least 4 red beads plus green spacers on the clasp side. If the clasp were to be positioned center back, there should be equal beads on both sides. Could be that beads were lost on the "female" side of the clasp and the clasp loosely attached until replacements could be found. If 4 red beads and spacers were found, this would extend the overall length by as much as 2 inches. I would remove 2 red beads from the longer end and add them to the shorter end, then fill the rest of the thread with easily found green spacers to make it into a wearable length.
Finding a tongue end to fit the remaining side of the clasp will be the major challenge, it would be a shame to have to place an entire new clasp, losing the Czech. identifier.

 

Maybe put a new clasp on and use the Czech. bit as a dangle?

 

A lot of the Neiger or Neiger style necklaces were pretty long -- like flapper length. Hard to say what this would have been originally regarding length, though. And if you are fixing up, you can certainly make it the ideal length for you.

Agree about the clasp being off center, looks tied on after some beads were already lost. Will be hard to find a tongue for that unique clasp as mentioned.

Here is the same pendant, not the same exact necklace, but you can see the length. Listed as Neiger, but could be Neiger style.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/572871...LKqHWgjgS-60P7Vn2JX5r0Hk7e3_1fxkaAtSOEALw_wcB

Great piece. What else is in your box?

 

I have used spare clasp tongues to replace the original. You usually have to file the sides to make it fit, but that's no major problem.

 

Where did you get spares, aj?

 

It’s a lovely necklace Bev, I too have boxes of beads but nothing as nice as yours.
There have been some great suggestions as to how to mend it and I completely agree about keeping the Czech clasp as a dangle if you can’t find another half for it. I look forwards to seeing it mended

 

how is that Czechoslovakia written ? Csecho- Zlovakia ?

 

These are on Etsy, and not identical, but if placed right/correctly, at the top, could work.......they came from a broken necklace it says.....don't know about size comparison....and just one possibility too!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/678396...h_query=neiger+deco+beads&ref=sr_gallery-1-28

 

Very resourceful Aqui!. What a great idea. Could be worth contacting the seller to see if they have any more loose beads?.

 

Agree on the clasp being tied back on after the necklace broke. At least this listing gives me an idea of the potential length. I have tons of beads of all different kinds. Floor to ceiling bookcase unit filled with tubes and containers of beads. I'm sure I can find something similar enough to repurpose the necklace and make them even on both sides. The alternative would be to try and sell it as is for someone who maybe has a necklace that needs "parts".

 

My daughter doesn't wear much jewelry either, but we're like my mother. Magpies when it comes to finding bits and bobs of pretty things. LOL. That's why my Ebay page was called Thelmasstuff - my Mom was Thelma. She wore no jewelry unless she was going out and then she had the Sara Coventry sets because my older brother was selling it at one time and she and my aunts bought it to help him. My parents had a second hand store and when they went out to buy furniture and things, she'd pick up boxes of random jewelry for $1. That's why I have such a collection of oddities. I had a second hand store for awhile with my ex and continued the tradition.