{"product_id":"1950s-iona-scottish-sterling-silver-necklace-after-alexander-ritchie","title":"Rare SEA CREATURES: Vintage 1950s IONA Scottish Sterling Silver Necklace. Marked IONA C.A.I. after ALEXANDER RITCHIE","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is an interesting 1950s C.A.I (Celtic Arts Industries) Iona Silver brooch probably made by the Scottish silversmith, John Hart after an earlier design by Alexander Ritchie.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a very rare vintage Scottish silver necklace - and features a string of silver confronted sea serpents. You more often see these sea monsters used for earrings, brooches, and occasionally on a bracelet - but I have never seen them used in this way in a necklace before. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI think that this one might have been made by John Hart using earlier moulds from Ritchie's Iona workshop. It is marked Iona \/ Sterling \/ Scotland and each serpent is marked to the back with the C.A.I. mark. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e The C.A,I. mark relates to the Celtic Art Industries - which was set up by Hamish Dawson-Bowman in the 1950s with silversmiths John Hart, as well as MacCormack who was apprenticed to Alexander Ritchie.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis one is finely cast with crisp detail, There are 5 pairs of confronted sea serpents (so 10 in total). Each confronted is 1.7 cm in length. The necklace measures 41.5 cm in overall length (16 1\/2 inches). The serpent section is 25 cm in length (9 3\/4 inches). The chain has a ring catch as photographed. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA special piece of Scottish silver, nearly 100 years old - obviously if it had been stamped AR - it would have had a much higher price tag. For a marked Iona piece from the 1950s \/ 1960s, it is on offer here at a fair price - you will not see another one readily with this fantastic mythical creatures \/ Celtic design. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is in excellent condition and is clean and ready to wear. It will be sent in a nice gift box for you to keep safe in your collection of vintage Scottish jewellery. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePostage will be with Royal Mail Tracked Small Parcel. Please choose a signed for service so I can make sure the necklace is fully insured against loss in transit. This will be applied to your order at the checkout. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Iconic Edinburgh","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39434815701056,"sku":"Cabinet Drawer 5 silver box","price":295.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0271\/1902\/6240\/files\/rare-sea-creatures-vintage-1950s-iona-scottish-sterling-silver-necklace-marked-c-a-i-after-alexander-ritchie-jewellery-874.webp?v=1781468625","url":"https:\/\/www.iconicedinburgh.co.uk\/products\/1950s-iona-scottish-sterling-silver-necklace-after-alexander-ritchie","provider":"Iconic Edinburgh","version":"1.0","type":"link"}