Antique Turquoise, Seed Pearl and Enamel Silver Locket Pendant/brooch

A very rare and stylish piece, this turquoise pendant is of imposing but wearable proportions.

Dating from around 1840, it retains the original glass-backed locket fixture along with a brooch pin fitting; the top section can be easily slid off to allow the piece to be worn as a pin or it makes for a very striking long pendant.

It has a few small makers and/or assay marks which are all but illegible, although one appears to be the boar's head which denotes French silver of at least 800 fineness. When we first saw it it called to mind Carlo Giuliano and it has a revivalist feel about it. The shape is definitely early and these longer pendants in two or more pieces were popular toward the end of the 18th century, although our feeling is that this is slightly later into the early 19th century. Stylistically, it has an Austro-Hungarian feel and the use of Persian turquoise, the enamel dots and stripes on the silver and seed pearls is unusual.

The enamel is worn in places and two of the smallest pearls at the bottom have lost some of their nacre but none of the cabochons or pearls is missing and the piece is so stunning that these details (only noticeable if you are really looking for them very closely) do not detract from its overall appeal.

The central section is approx 3.5cm wide x 4cm tall. The central turquoise cabochon measures approx 5mm diameter. The skinny dangle at the bottom is 4.3cm long. The glass at the back measures 2.2cm in diameter.

Total weight: 13.6g

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