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Graduated faux-pearl bead necklace (plastic)
Jewelry
A single-strand necklace of graduated round beads finished to imitate pearls, identified as plastic. The beads increase in size from small at the back of the strand to the largest at the front centre, in the classic graduated-pearl arrangement. They carry a pale cream/ivory pearlescent coating over a plastic core; several beads show wear typical of coated plastic imitation pearls, including surface dulling, a more matte appearance where the lustre has rubbed away, and at least one bead with a visible crack or split in the coating. The beads appear strung on a cord with small spacer knots or beads between them. No metal clasp findings are clearly visible in these views, suggesting the strand may be continuous (a rope/slip-over length) or that the closure is not shown.
2025.1.100
Necklace
Belonged to Gertrudis Caraballo Gálvez
The Cabrera Arús family collection
Gertrudis Caraballo Gálvez collecition
2025.1
Date Circa mid-to-late 20th century (undetermined). Coated-plastic imitation pearls were mass-produced throughout the period; no datable feature narrows this.
Fair
Gertrudis Caraballo Gálvez
owner
Havana
Cuba
Caribbean
Central America
use
Faux pearls were among the most ubiquitous and affordable forms of dress jewellery in the 20th century, worn for both everyday and formal occasions; plastic-based imitations made the "pearl" look accessible across all income levels. In the Cuban context such pieces represented attainable elegance and were kept, mended, and re-worn over long periods.