Antique French 18K, Silver, Seed Pearl, Paste & Hand Painted Enamel Locket Pendant K

 Hand painted miniature portraits were the predecessors of photographs. When there was no other way to record a likeness of someone, the miniatures were treasured and passed down in families. Some portrait miniatures were painted of a specific person, and others were of classic style beauties rather than a particular real person. Often, these pieces were made into jewelry and worn as decoration, such as our pendant. The Victorians loved to hearken back to earlier periods in time, and we think that this is such an example.

This darling pendant depicts a young girl in a garden, holding a sheaf of wheat or long grass, with what is either the top of her skirt or a bag of other plants she has gathered. The garden background is very impressionistic, while the figure is in sharper detail, giving the piece contrast despite the garden and the girl being painted in very similar colors. She is framed in gold and silver set with seed pearls and foiled paste stones.

On the other side is a glass panel showing a lock of blond hair and a vintage photograph of a young woman.

Details (approximate)

Dimensions: 1 3/4" overall length

Materials: Gold, silver, seed pearls, foiled paste, hand painted enamel in the Watteau fashion (Lock of blond hair & vintage photo inside locket)

Metal: 18K gold, silver

Marks: None

Condition: Very good antique condition

Circa 1830

LORL, LOE