Beaded Italian Necklace

Simple string, cord and beaded necklaces seem to be fairly popular in Italy in the fifteenth century, so I decided to make one to go with this style of dress.



Portrait of Giovanna Tornabuoni by Ghirlandaio
Image from: http://ganino.com/_media/artists:domenico_ghirlandaio1449-1494:ghirlandaio13.jpg


Domenico Ghirlandaio, Birth of St. John the Baptist (1486-1490)
Image from: http://ganino.com/_media/artists:domenico_ghirlandaio1449-1494:ghirlandaio2.jpg



Ghirlandaio's Portrait of a Lady
Image from: http://www.wikiart.org/en/domenico-ghirlandaio/portrait-of-a-lady

I made my necklace as a single strand of beads which then splits into two after being separated by a larger blue sunstone bead.

The blue glass seed beads (4mm) were strung onto tiger tail. A crimp was used at the bottom to secure the beads. After the bigger sunstone bead, the single strand splits to become two separate strands. They are finished with crimps and silver fastenings.

I am thinking of making another necklace in a similar style, but with two strands at the bottom, and maybe one in thin lucet or fingerwoven cord.