ELSA PERETTI c.1974 Tiffany & Co. Large Sterling Silver "Bean" Necklace RARE
View Similar Items
ELSA PERETTI c.1974 Tiffany & Co. Large Sterling Silver "Bean" Necklace RARE
About the Item
- Creator:
- Metal:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970's
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Thiensville, WI
- Reference Number:Seller: EI:000589_1/E1stDibs: LU541311813132
Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co.
In an era of social upheaval, venerable Tiffany & Co. designer Elsa Peretti reimagined diamonds as jewelry that working women bought for themselves rather than receiving it from a suitor.
By the time the Italian-born Peretti (1940–2021) arrived in New York City, she’d already studied design in Rome, worked for a Milanese architect and taught Italian, French and skiing in Switzerland. She settled on interior design as her potential career path but then chose an altogether different route: modeling. Peretti modeled in Barcelona, Spain, and on the advice of Wilhelmina Cooper — a former model who’d by then founded Wilhelmina Modeling Agency — moved to Manhattan in 1968. When she relocated, Peretti was inspired to pick up jewelry design.
After modeling for designer Halston, the undisputed fashion king of Studio 54, Peretti became his close friend and collaborator, eventually creating jewelry and teardrop-shaped perfume bottles for him. By way of her association with Halston, Peretti took to the disco scene, flourishing in a social circle that included artist Andy Warhol and fashion designer Giorgio di Sant’Angelo.
It wasn’t long before models on di Sant’Angelo’s runway were donning two-inch sterling-silver vases, complete with a rose stem, suspended on leather thongs around their necks. The accessory was Peretti’s inaugural piece of jewelry — she designed it in 1969 after finding a flower vase at a flea market. It was hardly the only time that Peretti found motifs in nature and in organic forms. In the years that followed, her Bean pendant necklace, Starfish earrings and other sensuous accessories would draw on human emotion as well as the natural world around her. Each evocative and wholly versatile design is universally adored decades later, and each was made for a storied American jewelry house with which Peretti would be associated for nearly 50 years.
It was Halston who introduced Peretti to Tiffany & Co. She had her own boutique at Bloomingdale’s by 1972, and her partnership with the firm, which signed the venturesome and unorthodox designer to an exclusive contract in 1974, would cement her place in the lofty annals of jewelry legend. Peretti’s simple but sophisticated designs — the Teardrop collection, her minimalist Diamonds by the Yard necklace and Open Heart ring, to name a few — elevated sterling silver, previously considered unsuitable for fine jewelry, and created an enthusiastic young audience for Tiffany’s offerings. In 1977, Peretti’s designs earned the jewelry house more than $6 million. (In some years, her work has accounted for 10 percent of the company’s sales.)
In 2012, Peretti signed a 20-year, $47.3 million contract with Tiffany & Co., but she passed away in 2021, at age 80. Today, her designs are in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the British Museum.
Find an exquisite collection of Elsa Peretti jewelry today on 1stDibs.
- MIRIAM HASKELL 1970s Gold Chain Winged Scarab Egyptian Etruscan Pendant NecklaceBy Miriam HaskellLocated in Thiensville, WILate 1970s Miriam Haskell (signed) gold-tone winged scarab large pendant necklace. Chain is curb style with rectangular links joined with grooved connectors that look like stacked be...Category
Vintage 1970s Etruscan Revival Pendant Necklaces
$547 Sale Price50% OffFree Shipping - HATTIE CARNEGIE c.1970's Large Gold Fish & Anchor Pendant Statement NecklaceLocated in Thiensville, WIVintage Hattie Carnegie c.1970's large anchor pendant statement necklace. Large gold-toned etched metal anchor pendant with integrated fish. Pendant is su...Category
Vintage 1970s American Pendant Necklaces
$327 Sale Price50% OffFree Shipping - Vintage Raw Coral & Bead Articulated Cloisonne Enamel Koi Fish Pendant NecklaceLocated in Thiensville, WIVintage raw coral and clear beaded articulated cloisonne enamel koi fish pendant necklace. Silver-toned sculptural metal Chinese koi fish pendant with arti...Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Pendant Necklaces
$1,027 Sale Price50% OffFree Shipping - c.1960's Large Polished Silver Modernist Tiered Pendant Statement NecklaceLocated in Thiensville, WIVintage c.1960's silver modernist tiered pendant statement necklace. Large modernist pendant made up of three polished silver-toned metal curved shapes in varying sizes. Each tier is...Category
Vintage 1960s Unknown Pendant Necklaces
$92 Sale Price80% OffFree Shipping - JULIANA D&E c.1970's Burnt Orange Cabochon Gold Tube Modernist Pendant NecklaceBy Delizza & ElsterLocated in Thiensville, WIVintage Juliana D&E, Delizza & Elser, c.1970's modernist pendant necklace. Featured on page 61 of "Juliana Jewelry The Last Generation". Four gold-toned meta...Category
Vintage 1970s Pendant Necklaces
$92 Sale Price65% OffFree Shipping - Vintage Raw Coral & Jade Articulated Cloisonne Enamel Koi Fish Pendant NecklaceLocated in Thiensville, WIVintage raw coral and jade beaded articulated cloisonne enamel koi fish pendant necklace. Silver-toned sculptural metal Chinese koi fish pendant with artic...Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Pendant Necklaces
$1,027 Sale Price50% OffFree Shipping
- Stunning 18k Yellow Gold Necklace 1.05 Ct Natural Diamonds, GIA CertificateLocated in רמת גן, ILA beautiful classic halo ring with a dazzling 1.05 carat Cushion Modified natural diamond in F VS1 quality and ideal cut what's means extremely bright and sparkles Natural Diamond. T...Category
2010s Israeli Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Beauvince 52.56 Carat Emeralds & 70.71 Carat Diamonds Love Suite in White GoldBy Beauvince JewelryLocated in New York, NYThe Love Suite is a statement luxury set of necklace and over-sized earrings bound to become the center of attention in any setting. Gemstones Type: Emeral...Category
2010s Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
- London Topaz 2.60 Carat 18 Karat White Gold Rolling Stone PendantBy Mousson AtelierLocated in Bangkok, THLondon Topaz 2.60 Carat 18 Karat White Gold Rolling Stone Pendant We all know about Western films, where rolling stones are moving all the time in the desert. Our collection is inspi...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsTopaz, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
- Issac Nussbaum GIA Certified 10.76 Carat Heart Shape Diamond Pendant NecklaceBy Issac NussbaumLocated in New York, NYGIA Certified Heart shape diamond From ISSAC NUSSBAUM NEW YORK. Magnificent heart shape diamond . This diamond weighs in at over 10 CARATS ! Heart shape diamonds in this size are ex...Category
2010s American Modern Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, Platinum
- Emilio Jewelry GIA Certified 5.00 Carat Fancy Deep Yellow Diamond NecklaceBy Emilio!Located in New York, NYFrom the Emilio Jewelry Museum Vault, We are Showcasing a stunning 5.00 carat pear shape Gia certified diamond. Natural fancy yellow diamonds are rare and this one is indeed a Fancy ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsYellow Diamond
Price Upon RequestFree Shipping - SCARSELLI Diamond Necklace in PlatinumBy SCARSELLILocated in New York, NYScarselli is featuring a platinum 12.88 carat mix marquise and round brilliant cut diamonds necklace. The hand-made setting filled with Scarselli quality E diamonds VS clarity. Lock...Category
2010s American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, White Diamond, Platinum