Gebr. Friedlaender: A fine Belle Epoque diamond pendant necklace, circa 1905

In the Garland style, designed as a wreath of millegrain-set old brilliant and old single-cut diamonds on knife-edge bars, suspending two articulated diamond-set pendants with old cushion-shaped diamond terminals, suspended from a detachable fine link chain interspersed with old cushion-shaped diamonds, detachable brooch fitting, unsigned (Lengths: pendant 9.8cm, chain 49.0cm) Sotheby's, Antique Jewels, 13th June 2000, lot 287, stating that it was purchased at Friedlander by a family member of the owner. Gebr. Friedlaender was one of the eminent German jewellery houses of the Imperial period, founded in Berlin in 1829 by Zadek Levin Friedlaender. Three generations of the family succeeded him, running the premises on Unter den Linden in Berlin, and receiving the royal warrant as gold-and silversmiths to three generations of German Emperors and their families. They were particularly renowned for their elaborate silver centrepieces. It remained a prominent jewellery house until it was forced to close in 1938, when it was repossessed and renamed Deutsche Goldschmiedekunst-Werkstätten until its doors closed completely in 1945. As they were not known to sign their jewellery, unfortunately most of their jewellery has lost its attribution over time. This pendant is illustrated in Understanding Jewellery, David Bennett and Daniela Mascetti, 2010 reprint, plate 491