Art Deco Necklace by Jakob Bengel, Early 1930s

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The Art Deco collection by the Jakob Bengel company from Oberstein, Germany, enjoyed worldwide success from the early 1930s onward. … Read more The Art Deco collection by the Jakob Bengel company from Oberstein, Germany, enjoyed worldwide success from the early 1930s onward. Inspired by the artistic avant-garde of the Bauhaus in Germany and the U.A.M. (Union des Artistes Modernes) in France, Jakob Bengel created an outstanding collection of costume jewelry. As already advocated by the Bauhaus, the focus was not on the material value or prestige, but solely on the design of the piece. Galalith and chrome-plated or nickel-plated brass were the most commonly used materials. At the end of the 1930s, with the discontinuation of Galalith production, Jakob Bengel also ceased manufacturing the collection. Today, the company's historic Art Deco jewelry is highly sought after by collectors and individualists. Jakob Bengel jewelry from the 1930s does not bear a company mark. Attributions are based on the typical design language and materials, historical pattern books in the company archives, and literature, in particular:

Weber, Christianne: Art Deco Jewelry - Jakob Bengel, Idar-Oberstein / Germany, Arnoldsche Art Publishers, Stuttgart, 2002.

Lindemann, Wilhelm: Bengel Art Deco Jewelry - Jewelry and Industrial Monument, Idar-Oberstein, Arnoldsche Art Publishers, Stuttgart, 2007.

The necklace clearly reflects the machine age in its materials and design language. Chestnut-brown spheres made of Galalith; spheres, tubes, and spiral made of nickel-plated brass; spring ring clasp; manufactured by machine and by hand. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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