Vintage Jakob Bengel Brickwork Collar Necklace

Discover a rare treasure of jewelry heritage with this Jakob Bengel brickwork, or mauerwerk  collar necklace. Crafted from chrome and featuring an enameled design dating back to 1920s Germany, it embodies the iconic Bauhaus style Bengel is renowned for. 

Measuring approximately 17" in length with a 1.25" central motif, this exquisite piece showcases timeless artistry. While showing slight wear on one end, the necklace remains remarkably well-preserved given its age, making it a distinguished & sophisticated addition to any collection.

"Bengel was established in 1873 in Idar-Oberstein, Germany, by Jakob Bengel, a locksmith and watch chain maker. The factory diversified into jewelry manufacturing in the 1920s and 1930s, encouraging young designers to create high-quality pieces influenced by fashion trends. Inspired by Bauhaus and the French Avant-Garde, Bengel created experimental pieces that combined brass and chrome with geometric shapes of colored galalith that were exported to France. In 1928, Coco Chanel commissioned a collection from Bengel. 

Despite its popularity, production ceased at the start of World War II, and because the pieces were not signed, Bengel was relatively unknown until the 1990s when a large collection of sample books was discovered. Today, the history of the firm is preserved by the Jakob Bengel Foundation and through the Jakob Bengel Industrial Monument, a living, hands-on museum.