Vintage Jakob Bengel Art Deco machine age silver tone, aqua blue galalith and glass bead necklace

Fabulous Art Deco necklace from the 1930s. A beautiful, almost Egyptian revival design, by the German maker Jakob Bengel. The silver tone links are beautifully made, becoming more ornate as they come in towards the centre. There are two round aqua blue beads that are made of glass. Then the central panel is a gorgeous, engraved circle with a claw / prong set circular cabochon of galalith also in aqua blue.

(A necklace in the same design with dark blue has previously been sold, the pictures are used show the length of both pieces.) The use of this early plastic made from casein is very characteristic of Bengel. It has a length of about 17 inches and fastens with a secure spring ring clasp. The necklace is in very good vintage condition.

Jakob Bengel was a chain and costume jewellery factory, founded by Jakob Bengel in 1873 in Idar-Oberstein, Germany. Until 1920, the company specialised in the production of watch chains and chatelaines (pendants for pocket watches). In the 1920s and 1930s, it became one of the leading manufacturers of fashion jewellery in the Art Deco style. It was during the Bauhaus and Art Deco period that designers were looking to obtain new materials and inspiration to produce costume jewellery. Inspired by French Avant-Garde and other fashion trendsetters such as Coco Chanel, Bengel started to produce experimental jewellery. The pieces, catalogued 1924-1939, combined brass and chrome with geometric shapes of coloured galalith.