"The dominant colours in Italian traditional jewellery are red and gold. Coral was the most popular material for necklaces, but garnets were also sometimes used, as here. Most Italian traditional necklaces are made of beads, in designs which have been worn for centuries. \n\nIn the 19th century Italian women usually used silk ribbons to fasten their necklaces and pendants, but these ribbons were fragile and easily destroyed. Only a trace of the purple ribbons which once fastened this necklace now remains.\n\nThis necklace was bought for \u00A34 as part of the Castellani collection of Italian Peasant Jewellery at the International Exhibition, Paris, 1867."@en . . . .