Posted 8 years ago
Peasejean55
(415 items)
I was so lucky to buy this at a fantastic price. As soon as saw this I thought of Jabob Bengel. The construction of this necklace reminds me of his brickwork design. Reading about this design it was a complicated method with the cold painted colours. This one as a black and a pinky colour, you can see some wear to it. The beauty of this necklace is that you can wear it on both sides.
Jakob Bengel began making watch chains in his factory in Ida's-Oberstein, Germany in 1873. The chains were made from silver, brass and other alloys known as Tombaugh and double Americaine. He was a success and in the 1920s went on to producing geometric costume jewellery using chromed chain, tubes, findings and Galalith ( this is a type of early plastic similar to Bakelite and Catalin).
The majority of Bengel jewellery is unsigned/unmarked ( the Bengel Mark is a pyramid stack of cannon balls and a cannon) especially those that were exported. In some cases because of Germany's lack of popularity in the 1930s, items exported to France were marked Made in France.
The factory closed on the out break of World War 2 in 1939 and lay closed and undiscovered until 2001 when collectors discovered the factory and its catalogues.
The Jacob Bengel rediscovery is a fascinating story, and his pieces too!
You are very lucky to get this one, and plus at a fantastic price :-D
Hi kyra, I really love wearing this necklace it goes wonderfully with everything I wear. I think with the cold paint slightly worn in places that it was one of the original 1930s pieces rather than the pieces that were found when they reopened the factory in 2001. I have seen the exact necklace in different coloured paint on Pinterest, I couldn't believe the prices of some of his pieces. This is definitely a keeper for me.
Hi valentino, yes it would have been fantastic to have been there when they reopened his factory. Thanks for your comment.
Great find Jean! His brickwork pieces are really special! In the same vein, he made some which were more "Machine Age" looking in either brass or chrome with bricks and screws. I will take a couple of photos and post later.
The great late designer Andrée Putman had a Jacob Bengel necklace she wore all the time :
02.jpg (640×643)
http://www.pascaldelmotte.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/02.jpg
http://www.amazingadornments.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=AA&Product_Code=E5113JBNEC&Category_Code=SVC
This is exactly the same necklace, except the colour.
Here is a Bengel Machine Age brickwork necklace:
http://photos.imageevent.com/bluboi/bengel/websize/Bengel_brass%20screw%20necklace.jpg
A chrome version using "bricks" and "screws"
http://photos.imageevent.com/bluboi/bengel/large/Bengel_chrome%20brick%20necklace%20V%20shape.jpg
And an unusual chrome necklace:
http://photos.imageevent.com/bluboi/bengel/websize/Bengel_chrome%20brick%20drape%20neckalce.jpg
Thank you bluboi, for your informative information, and your links are brilliant. Looking at the above comments , am I right in thinking this necklace was machine age?
I'm really beginning to take a great interest in Jakob Bengel jewellery, I just love it.
I think Bengel jewelry shows both Deco and Machine Age styles. For example, I feel the brickwork and the gaspipe pieces are more Machine Age. Your other bracelet also had a machine-like feel to it. Yet, his geometric galalith pieces often feel Deco to me. Frankly, I suspect attributions go in both directions (or people use both in their descriptions - lol!).
for those wondering about the gaspipe style, here is one:
http://photos.imageevent.com/bluboi/bengel/websize/Bengel%20necklace_chrome%20gaspipe%20w%20red%20beads.jpg
I can see Jakob Bengel in the pieces I have. In the link above I would not have guest it was his work, the necklace is completely different. I suppose I have a idea of how I think his work is. The necklace in your link I would have probably not taken any notice. Interesting, I have a lot to learn. Thank bluboi, I really appreciate your links and help.
Wowzer! Are these pieces very heavy? Kyra in the two photos on the top row, the necklace is bright and shiney - just a trick of the lighting? (Just read that he did use silver.) She also wears a ring in the top left photo, would you know if that is Bengel as well?
Great research Bluboi, you too Kyra.
Jean do you have other pieces you can show - I think Bluboi mentioned a bracelet?
Wonderfully educational post.
Gillian, in general the pieces are quite light. The gaspipe pieces are more substantial, but still very wearable.
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/203495-art-deco-jabok-bengel-bracelet
Hi Gillian this is the bracelet :-)
Wow, Bluboi, thanks for your links!
Gillian, for Andrée Putman's ring, I don't know!
For the necklace, she spoke about it in an old interview, and said it was an "unexpensive" chrome necklace, but loved its design so much she wore it all the time, even on big events :-) That was the first time I heard of Jakob Bengel and saw his work.
Than you valentino, kyra, Gillian and bluboi for your constructive comments, I really enjoyed this post. Hopefully in the future I shall come across more pieces from this amazing person.
Many thanks
melaniej
kyra
Manikin
Efesgirl
Caperkid
aura
vetraio
Scott
valentino
TassieDevil
fleafinder
Blueboi
kiwipaul
PhilDMorris
NevadaBlades
sarahoff
mikelv