Name/Title
Triple-strand faceted glass bead necklace, clear "aurora borealis," with rhinestone claspEntry/Object ID
2025.1.82Description
A multi-strand (three-strand) beaded necklace of clear, colorless faceted glass beads with an iridescent "aurora borealis" (AB) surface coating that throws pink, blue, gold, and green flashes. The round beads are machine-faceted and graduate slightly, larger toward the front-center and smaller toward the clasp; the three strands run parallel and gather at each end into a single clasp. The closure is a rectangular box clasp (push-in tongue type) set on its face with colorless rhinestones, with multi-loop end-plates anchoring the three strands. The metal is silver-tone. The beads are bright; the necklace is shown coiled. The construction closely matches the amethyst/pink triple-strand necklace recorded earlier.Item Type
NecklaceCollection
The Cabrera Arús family collection, Gertrudis Caraballo Gálvez collecitionMade/Created
Notes
MAKER: Unknown; unmarked. No maker's mark or metal stamp visible on the clasp in this view. Costume jewelry; manufacturer not identified.
DATE / PERIOD: Not marked; mid-20th century (estimated). Aurora borealis bead coatings were introduced around 1955 (a Swarovski/Christian Dior development), so AB beads postdate the mid-1950s — a useful terminus: this necklace dates to circa mid-1950s or later, most likely later-1950s–1960s, hedged.
ORIGIN: Not established from the object (no country or maker mark visible). Faceted-glass AB bead jewelry was produced widely (the Czech/Bohemian industry prominent).Materials
Material Notes
MATERIALS: Faceted glass beads with an aurora borealis (iridescent metallic) surface coating; base-metal silver-tone box clasp set with colorless glass/paste rhinestones; strung on thread or cord (not visible).
TECHNIQUES: Machine-cut/faceted glass beads with a vacuum-applied AB coating, strung in three graduated strands to a commercial rhinestone box clasp with multi-loop end-plates; standard costume-jewelry assembly.Relationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Gertrudis Caraballo GálvezNotes
ownerRelated Places
Place
City
HavanaCountry
CubaRegion
Caribbean, Central AmericaNotes
use, purchaseResearch Notes
Notes
This is a triple-strand faceted-glass bead necklace with an aurora borealis finish and a rhinestone box clasp — mid-century costume jewelry of the same construction family as the amethyst/pink triple-strand necklace recorded earlier (and its matching earrings).
The most useful dating evidence is the AB coating itself: aurora borealis beads were introduced in the mid-1950s (a Swarovski–Dior development), so this necklace cannot predate then and most plausibly dates to the later 1950s–1960s.Created By
María A. Cabrera ArúsCreate Date
October 18, 2025Updated By
María A. Cabrera ArúsUpdate Date
June 14, 2026