Antique 19th Century post-Georgian Victorian paste riviere necklace, closed cup settings, beautiful foiled rhinestones, gilt metal

Beautiful 19th Century Victorian gilt metal and sparkling paste riviere necklace. The necklace consists of linked individual panels each containing a large, faceted clear paste rhinestone claw set in a cup back setting with a smooth closed mushroom back. I was surprised to find the metal did not test positive for sterling silver - I had thought it was a gilded silver. It could be a lower grade silver or even simply brass cups.

The stones are all identical in size and are remarkably bright and sparkling - these foiled settings allow the stones to stay bright. This is a beautiful piece with a slim-fitting choker length of about 15 inches. It fastens with an old Victorian push-in clasp in a gold tone metal.

It is in very good vintage condition with only a very small amount paste discolouration as seen in the photographs.