Posted 14 years ago
TamaraB
(60 items)
I purchased this last week at an estate sale. Wish I knew more about it, I was told it was from around the 1870's and was a french hair receiver with a 14k mark on the pins hook. On super close inspection the porcelain is signed with was looks like... A. Pitolet. I love all the small details, the small diamonds or crystals in the bow, the graduating size of the pearls, and the porcelain's details of the doves, cherub, and the woman, even a bird's nest in the background. The pendant loop at the top folds down when worn as a pin, however the needle part was broken off at some point. My guess is because someone was constantly being poked by it.
I haven't seen anything quite like it.
What do you think? Is it old, french, reproduction, real?
Perhaps this is enamel work...
Indeed a very lovely locket/pendant. A French item from that period would be of 18K and you could probably find (after very good looking everywhere on the jewel with a loop!) for a hallmark for instance the eagle's head (18K). So, if you don't find any other hallmark than 14K on the pins hook I suppose the origin is not French. If you also could place a picure of the backsite, perhaps we could see what kind of material it is made for instance porcelain. I think it is a handpainted portret. The best you could do, I think, is to show it a good juweler expert. He/she can also tell you if the stones are paste or real diamonds. In any case it is a very nice pendant !
Agram.m, thanks for your input. Sad to say I don't think there are any antique jewelry experts around here. I think some of the collectors on this website, like yourself, are very knowledgeable. I am planning to visit my friend who is a jeweler so he can check it out for content, to see if it really is gold, and if the pearls and stones are real. I put it on here to see if people think it is old, like I was told. :-)
Thanks for your comment as well Tamara. And yes, I do think your locket indeed is old only in my first comment I got the attention to the point of the gold carat and perhaps the land of origin. But again I'am sure your locket is an antique. Good luck in surching and let us hear your results please !
that is very nice
Dear TamaraB, As I let you know in the past; a very beautiful antique pendant. To be sure the pearls are real rub them against your teeth. If it feel hard, like stone they are real.
For sure, this high quality pendant/brooch is THE real antique thing, enamel painted miniature, high carat gold, natural pearls and rosecut diamonds, around 1870.
Good catch!