This rare necklace perfectly illustrates the mastery of nunome-zōgan, Japanese damascening, which consists of inlaying fine gold leaves or threads into a carefully engraved iron background. Each flower-shaped medallion, connected by a delicate gilded metal setting, features a finely chiseled decoration where landscapes, animals, and traditional symbols are precisely displayed. The contrast between the deep black of the polished iron and the brilliance of the gold gives the ensemble a visual richness that evokes the preciousness of court finery from the Meiji period.

A double clasp allows the necklace to be adjusted in length, demonstrating that the object combined aesthetic refinement with practical ingenuity. The reverse of the medallions, also decorated, demonstrates the attention paid to every detail, both visible and hidden. The intaglio signature of Fukui, one of the renowned workshops of the late 19th century, places this work in the circle of the great masters of damascene, whose expertise was highly sought after by Western collectors at the time.

Created around 1900, this piece of jewelry is not limited to ornament: it embodies the adaptation of Japanese metalworking traditions to the world of jewelry, at a pivotal moment when Japanese craftsmanship was in dialogue with international taste. Through this necklace, the centuries-old technique of nunome-zōgan is transformed into an object of adornment, a rare testimony to a subtle art and a time of great creative effervescence.