‘Faded Acanthus’, 22ct gold-plated necklace by Rachael Plassard

This attention-grabbing and very elegant necklace has been hand-crafted by Rachel Plassard, a British designer whose work takes inspiration from highly decorative historical styles. The ornamental jewellery piece comes from Plassard’s 'Faded Acanthus' collection.

The several parts making up the necklace have been hand-pierced and hand-formed in the shape of acanthus leaves – one of the main historical iconographies present in Rachael’s work. The designer's clever use of metal finishing techniques has achieved the striking colour fade whereby shining gold acanthus leaves gradually transform to black. The darker part of the necklace is crafted from oxidized sterling silver, while the gold section is created using 22ct yellow gold plating.

The 'Faded Acanthus' series is filled with Plassard’s personal narratives and symbolism. The ombre effect visible on the necklace is not only decorative but also representative of the gradual fade of memory. The gold-to-black surface decoration of this piece reflects deteriorating, illustrating the gradual disappearance of memory and the passive conceptualisation of forgetting.

The necklace is stamped with Plassard’s mark as well as other hallmarks.

Expertly crafted by Plassard, the necklace would be a stunning and refined accessory, for example, to an all-white outfit.