Gorgeous midcentury Ming's plumeria necklace in sterling & ivory

This highly collectible piece was treasured by a friend's mother. It was created by Ming's of Honolulu, Hawaii, which operated from about 1940 to 1999. With its closure, Ming's recognizable designs, such as those featuring native flowers carved of ivory and set on sterling silver, have become even more sought after. The details in this 15-inch necklace are extraordinary. There are six 1" plumeria - or frangiapani - blossoms with light yellow centres, each petal quite distinct. The back of the piece is as lovely as the front. Four of the blossoms have an inscription, be it Ming's, Honolulu, Ivory or Plumeria - though the words were either incomplete or have faded. There is a flower design engraved on each of the panel links. A panel on one end is additionally marked MING'S, and near that is the mark STERLING. The piece is in excellent shape, with no visible scratches or chips on the blossoms. A professional cleaning would doubtless enhance the beauty of the silver.