Five Strand Mediterranean Coral Necklace

Coral and sterling silver are the essential materials used to create this necklace.  The coral is dense and high grade in quality without pits or cracks, relatively scarce now.  Branches were carefully cut, drilled (some lengthwise and some crosswise, then polished.)

Special note must be made of the care taken to graduate the coral beads, as they were strung, resulting in a beautiful cohesive draped at the bottom and full, smooth gathering into cones at the top.  

These cones are hand fabricated of mill rolled ingot sheet. Stamp decorated sterling wire was used to finish the necklace along with a hand-crafted hook and eye.

Center drilling across, at least 75% of the beautiful branch material, creates a fullness, a meshing quality an ordinary five strand necklace of just "tube" coral beads would not have.  

Likely made by American Indian jewelers from Santo Domingo, Zuni or from the Navajo culture.

"Unknown artist" is appropriate when a work of art is unsigned and a supported opinion about who made it is not available (on Savvy Collector).. "Attributed to" precedes the name of an artist when information suggests that it likely was made by that artist (on Savvy Collector).