Featured Germany/Austro Hungarian necklace?

Hello everyone,
I found this necklace in online a silver jewelry lot. Didn't pay much more than silver price.
It came from France.
Its silver vermeil with garnets and half pearls.

When I saw the blurry pictures of the seller, I was sure this was going to be an Austro Hungarian necklace.
Now it has arrived and it looks to be in excellent shape! Which is amazing.
But looking at the marks, I m starting to believe its more like a German thing, -again- (Have had some German jewelry finds in the past, which I showed here earlier).
So, any thoughts about this one?
I read '800' and the other mark maybe 'HGS'?
Thank you very much!

 

Gorgeous necklace, Dessert. It is either German or Austrian. Not Austro-Hungarian (no decorated backs!).
This Historic Revival style, often with Bohemian garnets, remained popular in folk jewellery in Austria and southern Germany to this day.

Although clearly a descendant of the Austro-Hungarian Historic Revival style of the 19th century, there are differences. Once you've seen a few pieces, you'll recognize it. You can google "Trachtenschmuck" to get acquainted with this later style.

 

Hello AJ, thanks for your reply.
That trachtensmuck always has me!
These German pieces and me...
I couldn't see the back when I bought it, and only some blurry pictures.
Still happy with my purchase though, for that price.
Any idea about age? Since they still happily make these pieces..

 

You don't want them, but they come to you anyway.
Learning to recognize the style, both of AH Historic Revival and of 20th century Trachtenschmuck, will help a lot. I like both btw, but absolutely love AH.

Second half of the 20th century, my guess 1970s.

 

Dessert, if you paid just above silver melt for that, I think you got a good deal. What a beautiful piece, looks very well made. Wow, I would have guessed older, but this is out of my expertise.

Maybe take a light silver cloth to the back of the latch to really get a look at the mark. Would be great to learn exactly who the maker is. Maybe post additional photos, and see if anyone here can help ID the maker from that mark. It's a bonus that it's signed.

 

I guess I will have to dive a bit deeper into the AH world.
These Trachtenschmuck jewels are a bit too new for my taste...
Like an impressionist painting from 1990.
I have found some amazing amber pieces this week though.
These are millions of years old.
So this weeks balance is still in favor of 'old as hell'

 

Do study them to avoid them. That's what I did when I began to buy AH.
After my first AH jewel I made the same mistake, even though I had seen quite a lot of Trachtenschmuck (one of my mother's favourite styles, of many). That's when I began to look at more, so I could tell the difference.

A few pointers:
Decorated backs are a clue to AH.
Pearls too, AH pearls were often Basra pearls, with an amazing lustre, or they simply used small MOP discs. These pearls look a bit too modern and monochromatic for AH.
Those sweet little flowers on the links are typical for Trachtenschmuck, but not for AH.

 

AJ, I like your way of thinking: Keep your friends close but your enemies closer!

thank you very much, your answers have been really helpful!

 

Dessert, until you recognize the difference, try to stay away from AH lookalikes that are set with garnet only or garnet and pearl only. Those are the favourites in Trachtenschmuck.

I know garnets and the garnet and pearl combo are beautiful, but that is the way those nasty Trachten people try to lure you into their trap.

 

'Those nasty Trachten people'

 

You know the type.

That all said, it is a beautiful necklace. If you want to sell it, I'm sure you'll do well.

 

My amber finds...
Big necklace was 1,2€.
I was a bit sad it was not bakelite when I found it in a 'kringwinkel' this week
The second, small one was a second hand shop find for 4€ yesterday
I tested them with my UV light
Again, a bit sad it didn't turn out to be bakelite
Can you tell I do like my bakelite?

 

Egg yolk amber, and stunning!

Dessert, I hate to see you sad. Send it to me and you'll be rid of it. I'll pay for the cost, of course.

Another beauty.

 

'Send it to me and you'll be rid of it'
So very nice of you!
The beads are huge on the big one. And heavy too at 88 gram

 

That's me, always willing to rid you of your valuables.

Seriously though, you've done very well lately.

 

u may luv your bakelite....but winding up with egg yolk amber....lots of it...instead of say...glass or plastic......
well that's a Win...everytime..!!

if AJ is to far to far to ship to......... uuummm....I'm closer !!

 

((gets her glove up) If you're throwing it, throw it over here.

 

Interesting thread!
As an aside to the actual necklace, that clasp….ive got a couple of pieces with the separate half moonish shape, are those traditional with German jewellery or just random findings?

 

That is just the design of the clasp, it isn't country-specific. Some makers like it if it goes with the design of the necklace, others use a more basic clasp. It is a sign that some thought was put into it.