Mid 20th Century Italian Pearl Emerald and Gold Gaspipe Snake Bracelet, Circa 1940

A 1940s Italian, pearl, emerald and gold gaspipe snake bracelet, with a repoussé snake head, on a knotted gaspipe body, set with natural half seed pearls and faceted emeralds, set upside down, in applied rose gold star settings, mounted in 18ct gold, with the tongue marked BREVTTATO, Italian for patented and a maker's mark or regional mark, circa 1940.

The Gaspipe or tubogas jewellery technique was patented in 1881, firstly being utilised by watchmakers. During World War Two the use of platinum was restricted. Gold was available to jewellers and could be recycled. This was one of the techniques that could produce larger items, without using large amount of gold. Gaspipe was adopted by some of Europe's best known jewellery houses, at the time headed by women, resulting in the style became the height of fashion.