Antique Suffragette Pendant
An antique suffragette pendant is a jewel of political history, crafted during the campaign for women's votes using specific gemstone colours.
Antique Suffragette Pendant
An antique suffragette pendant uses the distinct colour palette of green, white and violet to signal allegiance to the cause for women's enfranchisement. These jewels emerge primarily from the Edwardian period and the early years of the twentieth century, aligning with the height of the militant and constitutional campaigns.
The most common form on this page is the lavalier or drop pendant, suspended from a fine gold chain. These pieces frequently combine amethysts, peridots and seed pearls in symmetrical garlands or intricate openwork frames.
Victorian examples also appear in the record, alongside pieces from around nineteen ten and nineteen thirty. Alongside pendants, related jewellery forms such as necklaces and brooches share the same characteristic gemstone combinations.
How they were made
Goldsmiths worked primarily in nine carat and fifteen carat yellow gold to construct the delicate mounts and bezels for these stones. Metalwork often takes the form of airy garland motifs or fluid Art Nouveau curves that frame the gems without heavy backing.
Seed pearls are threaded or pinned meticulously into the gold framework to provide the white element of the tripartite colour scheme. Amethysts supply the violet tones, while peridots, pink tourmalines and aquamarines deliver the greens and supplementary shades.
What varies in quality
The choice of gold standard creates a clear distinction across the range, with fifteen carat pieces offering a richer metal colour and heavier construction than their nine carat counterparts. The fineness of the granulation and the crispness of the pierced goldwork further separate standard production from superior output.
Gemstone selection dictates the visual impact of the jewel, particularly the saturation of the amethysts and the lively clarity of the peridots. Uniformity and secure setting of the tiny seed pearls also determine the overall refinement of the piece.
The Antique Suffragette Pendant Glossary
- Lavalier
- A pendant featuring a small drop suspended from a longer central motif or chain. This style was exceptionally popular during the Edwardian era.
- Garland style
- A decorative motif mimicking looped swags of flowers and ribbons. It defined much of the jewellery design in the early twentieth century.
- Seed pearl
- A very small, naturally formed saltwater pearl used extensively in clusters and borders. They require delicate handling to maintain their position.
- Art Nouveau
- A design movement characterised by flowing, organic lines and asymmetrical plant forms. It influenced the framing of several pieces on this page.
- Peridot
- A yellowish green gemstone favoured in Edwardian pendants. It provides the green component in the suffragette colour sequence.
Antique Suffragette Pendant: Frequently Asked Questions
What do the colours mean?
The combination of green, white and violet stands for give women votes, using the initial letters of the stones. Green represented hope, white stood for purity and violet denoted dignity.
Jewellers arranged peridots, pearls and amethysts deliberately to convey this political message during the early twentieth century campaign.
Are these pieces Edwardian?
Most examples date from the Edwardian period or around nineteen ten, coinciding with the peak of the movement. Victorian and later pieces also appear in the records.
The gold standards and stylistic elements like garland drops help anchor them securely within this broad timeframe.
How do I wear a lavalier?
A lavalier hangs lower on the chest than a standard pendant, usually suspended from a slender gold chain. They sit best against solid fabrics that allow the intricate goldwork to stand out.
Care should be taken with the tiny seed pearls when fastening or storing the necklace.
What gold was used?
Makers utilised both nine carat and fifteen carat yellow gold for these pendants. Fifteen carat gold provides a deeper, warmer tone common in better quality pieces.
The metal is typically lightweight to let the gemstones catch the light from behind.