A PASTE BANGLE, BY VERDURA FOR CHANEL

Coco Chanel and Fulco Santo Stefano della Cerda, Duke of Verdura, worked in close partnership to derive an entirely new decriptive format for jewellery. Drawing on a shared belief that pieces should be powerful but not simply valued for the stones used in their construction, they produced both precious gem and costume versions of some of their creations. The Maltese Cross motif pervaded many of their designs and is perhaps the most intrinsically linked to the Chanel name as well as Verdura's own. In varying forms, colours and derivations this pattern was reinvented time and time again, perhaps the most famous of which being the white enamel bracelet with applied precious stone cross, a version of which Chanel herself was pictured wearing.