A silver and gold ruby set necklace by Louis Osman, 1974-5, the pendant composed of four hand-fashioned drops, each cupped disc inset with a rough ruby crystal matrix, the drops attached to a linear silver framework and suspended from a baton-link chain with hook fastener, the reverse stamped with maker’s mark ‘LO’, together with a handwritten letter from Louis Osman illustrating the small additional hook made to enable the wearer to shorten the necklace, pendant length approximately 7cm, gross length approximately 30cm. £5,000-£6,000

This ruby necklace was commissioned by the vendor’s grandfather Branton Streeton, as a gift for his wife Gertrude on the occasion of their ruby wedding anniversary. The Streetons were great friends with Louis and Dilys Osman.

The accompanying handwritten letter by Louis Osman addressed from Byford Court to ‘Branton’, written shortly before Christmas 1974, adds a PS (postscript) which reads:

“I made it (the necklace) make directions towards the cleavage but if Gert wants to wear it shorter she will find a little gold hook two down from the centre back…”

Osman included a pen and ink sketch within this letter, illustrating the fastener and the small gold hook to shorten the necklace if required. This letter referenced the cost of the necklace as being ‘£250’.
Two further letters to ‘Brant’ from Osman, the first typed and dated 1 July 1975, the second undated, referenced the payments and alterations considered for the necklace chain.

Osman worked predominantly with Britannia rather than Sterling standard silver. According to a PMI test on an XFR Analyzer, a random spot test on the necklace confirms the silver as ‘950’ standard.







Please note this lot is subject to ARR (Artist’s Resale Rights).