Marius Hammer Art Nouveau Guilloché Enamel Festoon Necklace Silver Gilt Circa 1910

A rare and exceptionally pretty Norwegian Art Nouveau festoon necklace by Marius Hammer, dating to circa 1910. Beautifully handcrafted in 930 grade silver with a rich gold gilt finish, the necklace is an intricate combination of delicate filigree work and luminous turquoise-blue and cream enamel. The decorative front is composed of a series of beautifully balanced scrolling floral motifs, each centred with a round disc of translucent turquoise-blue guilloché enamel. Smaller enamelled links alternate between the larger motifs, while tiny cream enamel accents provide a wonderfully subtle contrast. Suspended beneath are thirteen articulated pear-shaped enamel drops, which move freely when the necklace is worn. Seven of the longer drops fall from the principal filigree sections, interspersed with six smaller drops, creating the elegant graduated fringe typical of fine Belle Époque and Art Nouveau jewellery. The enamel has a lovely translucent quality, allowing the finely worked guilloché pattern beneath the surface to catch the light. Tiny gold ball finials and exceptionally fine wirework complete the design, demonstrating the delicacy and precision for which Marius Hammer’s Norwegian enamel jewellery is so admired. The ornamental section is suspended from an integral trace-link chain and retains its original cylindrical push-and-twist barrel clasp with spring-loaded safety mechanism. The reverse bears the distinctive Marius Hammer maker’s mark together with 930S, denoting high-grade silver. The silver has been gilded, giving the necklace its warm gold appearance. At approximately 42cm / 16½ inches, the necklace sits beautifully around the neckline, with the articulated enamel drops creating gentle movement when worn. An outstanding and remarkably well-preserved piece of early 20th-century Scandinavian jewellery, combining exceptional craftsmanship with the delicate colour and flowing naturalistic forms characteristic of the Art Nouveau period. Details Maker: Marius Hammer, Norway Period: Art Nouveau / Edwardian Date: Circa 1910 Metal: 930 grade silver with gilt finish Design: Filigree festoon / fringe necklace Enamel: Turquoise-blue and cream Technique: Translucent guilloché enamel Necklace length: Approximately 42cm / 16½ inches Round enamel panels: Approximately 5.5mm Enamel drops: Approximately 11.5mm and 8.5mm Seven longer articulated drops: Approximately 3cm overall Six shorter articulated drops: Approximately 2cm overall Total articulated pear-shaped enamel drops: 13 Small cream enamel accents: 21 Chain: Integral trace-link chain Clasp: Original push-and-twist barrel clasp with spring-loaded safety mechanism Marks: Marius Hammer maker’s mark and 930S Weight: 14.5 grams Condition: Exceptional Presented in the presentation box illustrated Our reference: 26179 A wonderfully romantic jewel from one of Norway’s best-known enamel jewellers, and a particularly beautiful example of Scandinavian Art Nouveau design. Marius Hammer (1847–1927) was one of Norway’s most celebrated goldsmiths and enamellers. Born into a family of goldsmiths in Bergen, he was the third generation to enter the profession and, after further training in Hamburg and Berlin, took over the family business and established himself as a master goldsmith in 1871. Hammer became particularly renowned for his finely worked silver, silver-gilt, filigree and enamel jewellery. His workshop developed an international reputation for the delicacy of its craftsmanship and the beauty of its enamel work, including colourful translucent enamelling and elaborate filigree designs. By the early 20th century his business had grown into one of Norway’s largest goldsmithing workshops His work was successfully exported abroad and was sold in London; from 1885 the firm was a supplier to the Prince of Wales. Hammer’s jewellery often combined traditional Norwegian craftsmanship with the flowing floral forms and vivid colours fashionable during the Art Nouveau period. Today, surviving pieces by Marius Hammer are admired for their intricate workmanship, distinctive enamel decoration and unmistakably Scandinavian character — qualities beautifully demonstrated by this exceptional circa 1910 festoon necklace. Please visit our website to view our full collection: https://www.the-chelsea-bijouterie.com Payment: By Debit/ Credit Card, PayPal or Bank Transfer Shipping: We post worldwide free of charge All items are sent fully insured, tracked and signed for. Terms of Sale: We are totally committed to customer satisfaction. We take great care to give accurate and detailed descriptions accompanied by high definition photos. If you are not entirely happy with your purchase we will gladly offer you a full refund. Please return within 14 days of receipt of your purchase. 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