Large Gold Medallion
These large gold medallion pieces span intricate zodiac charms and grand carpet centrepieces, offering striking focal points for any room or collection.
Large Gold Medallion
The large gold medallion pieces collected here encompass both wearable pendants and central motifs upon carpets, bridging personal ornaments and interior textiles. When buyers search for a large gold medallion, they encounter items ranging from Victorian hair lockets and French zodiac charms to intricately patterned carpets featuring central medallions from Ushak and Amritsar.
Most items meeting this description date from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, reflecting diverse periods such as the Victorian era, the nineteen-twenties, and the nineteen-thirties. Forms include pendants, charms, lockets, and large area rugs, alongside distinct pieces like overmantel mirrors and dining chairs.
Origins span France, England, and Northern India, demonstrating how the concept of the medallion manifests across different cultural and decorative traditions. Whether worn around the neck or laid upon a floor, these objects draw the eye directly to their central design.
Materials and construction
The metallic items utilise yellow gold in various purities, specifically eighteen-carat, fifteen-carat, and nine-carat yellow gold, often shaped through techniques like engine-turning. Giltwood, carved wood, and gesso appear in the larger decorative frames, while textiles incorporate wool, cotton, silk damask, and timber.
Carpet construction involves hand-knotting wool and cotton upon ivory grounds to form complex medallion patterns. Jewellery items employ casting and stamping methods to render detailed zodiac starsigns, Welsh dragons, and architectural landmarks such as Caernarfon Castle.
Large Gold Medallion Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for large gold medallion among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
The documented periods span the Victorian era, eighteen-ninety, nineteen-twenty, nineteen-thirty, and nineteen-sixty.
Assessing quality
Quality in these pieces rests upon the precision of the metalwork, the clarity of engine-turned engraving, and the preservation of textile pile. Finer jewellery exhibits crisp detailing in motifs like zodiac signs and heraldic symbols.
In larger textiles and wooden furnishings, excellence shows in the uniformity of the knotting, the integrity of the giltwood and gesso surfaces, and the richness of the silk damask upholstery.
Perroud
The Large Gold Medallion Glossary
- Medallion
- A circular or oval ornament, often placed centrally on a carpet or worn as a pendant. It acts as the primary visual anchor for the entire composition.
- Engine-turned
- A decorative technique involving precise geometric patterns mechanically engraved into metal surfaces. This method produces repetitive, intricate textures on gold lockets and charms.
- Giltwood
- Wood that has been coated with gold leaf or a gold-coloured finish. It appears frequently on decorative frames and furniture from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
- Ushak
- A traditional style of carpet originating from Turkey, known for distinctive floral or geometric medallion designs. These rugs often feature muted wool piles on ivory grounds.
- Locket
- A small hinged pendant designed to open and enclose a keepsake, such as a lock of hair or a miniature portrait. They are frequently fashioned from high-purity yellow gold.
Large Gold Medallion: Frequently Asked Questions
What periods do these pieces come from?
The selection includes items spanning the Victorian period through to the mid-twentieth century, specifically covering dates from the eighteen-sixties up to nineteen-sixty.
Each era contributes distinct stylistic traits, from Victorian engine-turned hair lockets to nineteen-twenties French zodiac charms and nineteen-thirties carpets.
How do I care for gold pendants?
Gold items require gentle cleaning with soft cloths and warm soapy water to preserve their polished surfaces and intricate engravings. Avoid harsh abrasives that might damage engine-turned patterns or delicate hinges on lockets.
Store them separately from harder gems to prevent scratching the yellow gold.
What materials make up the carpets?
Carpets featuring medallions are typically constructed from wool and cotton, sometimes paired with an ivory ground. The natural fibres provide durability and a rich texture underfoot.
Proper maintenance involves regular gentle vacuuming without a beater bar to protect the pile.
How can I identify a zodiac charm?
French zodiac charms display specific astrological starsigns such as Cancer, Scorpio, or Libra cast in yellow gold. These pieces often bear maker marks like Perroud and date to the early decades of the twentieth century.
Examining the reverse and the suspension loop helps determine the period and origin.