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Artisan Double-Strand Red Howlite & Glass Statement Necklace with Antiqued Brass

$54.00 Only one available

Price in USD. Shipping is $5.95 to the contiguous US — see our Shipping Policy.

Contemporary Brass / Copper, Crystal / Glass Excellent
JWLN-VR-0005
A double-strand statement necklace built from deep oxblood red dyed howlite, translucent red glass rounds, and chunky antiqued brass-tone nuggets. Unsigned artisan work — the kind of piece that only makes sense once you see it on. Highlights
  • Two strands: 18" inner, 20" outer
  • Dyed red howlite rounds paired with translucent red glass beads (largest approx. 1/2")
  • Antiqued brass-tone metal beads, nuggets, and findings
  • Unsigned artisan construction, hand-strung
Condition: Excellent. Clasp shows light wear but springs cleanly and closes securely. No loose beads, no wire stretch. The antiquing on the brass-tone components is intentional.
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Artisan Double-Strand Red Howlite & Glass Statement Necklace with Antiqued Brass

Late 20th Century / Contemporary Artisan

Bohemian Artisan Statement Necklace

This double-strand came out of a private collection in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Lysa spotted it first — that quick, certain look she gets when a piece wants to come home with us — and called it for the boutique's own collection before we'd even finished the walk-through. Her eye, her pull, her call. Sometimes a necklace announces itself and the right answer is just to listen.

The maker is unknown. There's no signature, no tag, no studio mark — just the evidence of the work itself: deep oxblood red dyed howlite paired with translucent red glass and chunky antiqued brass-tone metal, hand-strung in two strands with the confident rhythm of someone who had done this many times before. Dyed howlite has a long history in artisan jewelry as an honest, affordable stand-in for coral, and the best pieces — like this one — lean into the depth of the color rather than hiding the substitution. Whoever built this necklace understood that. They also understood weight and drape and how a double strand should sit against a collarbone. We don't know their name, but we recognize the hand.

Materials Stabilized dyed red howlite rounds, translucent red glass beads, antiqued brass-tone metal beads, nuggets, and clasp findings. Hand-strung on sturdy wire, two strands.
Care Store flat or hanging to preserve the strand shape. Wipe gently with a soft dry cloth. Keep away from water, perfume, and lotions — dyed howlite can fade with prolonged moisture exposure.
From the Research Archives
vintagerose.us Catalog No. JWLN-VR-0005 • April 2026

Specifications

Dimensions
N/A
Weight
0.3 lbs
SKU
JWLN-VR-0005
This one took a minute to puzzle out, and that's part of why it's here. Two strands of deep red beads, stacked and layered — oxblood red dyed howlite rounds carrying the weight of the piece, translucent red glass beads catching light between them, and chunky antiqued brass-tone nuggets breaking up the rhythm where it needs breaking. It reads, at first glance, like something much older and much more precious than it actually is. That was the point. The red stones are stabilized dyed howlite — sometimes called magnesite in the bead trade; the terms are used interchangeably because the two minerals are visually identical once cut and polished. Under a loupe you can see the closed polygonal cellular matrix that gives howlite away, along with one small dye-bald patch where the white base stone shows through. This is an honest material doing honest work: dyed howlite has been used in artisan jewelry for decades to stand in for coral, and the best pieces lean into the depth of color rather than trying to hide the substitution. This necklace leans in. The translucent red rounds we're calling glass. They're warm and light-catching and paired beautifully against the denser howlite. The metal components — beads, nuggets, spacers, and the clasp — are antiqued brass-tone, with the kind of warm darkened finish that reads as intentional rather than worn. Everything is hand-strung on sturdy wire with no signs of stretch. Details
  • Inner strand: 18"
  • Outer strand: 20"
  • Largest red glass bead: approx. 1/2" (12.7mm)
  • Stabilized dyed red howlite rounds, translucent red glass beads, antiqued brass-tone metal components
  • Unsigned artisan construction
  • One of one — as with everything at The Vintage Rose Boutique
Condition Excellent overall. The clasp shows some light wear consistent with careful use but is fully functional and springs cleanly. No loose beads, no wire stretch, no missing elements. The darkened finish on the brass-tone components is intentional antiquing, not tarnish or damage. A note on materials: we describe this as dyed howlite because that is what it is. If you're looking for genuine coral, this isn't that piece — and honestly, given what ethical coral sourcing looks like in 2026, we'd steer you toward the howlite anyway. It wears beautifully, holds its color, and costs a fraction of what a comparable coral strand would run.

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