Antique French 18k Gold and Black Enamel, Pearl, Double Locket, Mourning Pendant or Brooch

With the double locks of hair still beautifully kept in the locket backside, mourning a dark and a very pale blond, this elegant 18k gold French mourning locket has been kept rather than worn. When I see hair like this, my experience suggests to me it is likely a locket that mourned a young mother and her infant. Perhaps the perished together of disease, which was not so uncommon at all in the mid-1800s, from which period this piece hails. Children tend to have those pale blond locks, which turn to darker blond as they get older (my own did). Might have been a grandmother who mourned them, based on the style of the jewelry. Pendant is 1 5/8″ tall plus 1/2″ bale, and it is 1 1/4″ wide, 5/8″ in depth, with 5mm pearl and pin back. And 17.88 grams total weight.

Very good to excellent condition for age and type. The condition of it tells me it was likely kept in memento, but not worn. There are no scratches at all on the old black kiln-fired enamel (though there is a very small chip on the bale (see images to review that single flaw). I’ve shown it in a period pendant case, but it does not go with it. and is only one of our prop boxes, doesn’t quite fit this one. Measurements are noted on the photos. The French eagle’s head profile mark is there on the pin, itself. Tiny, hard to make out, but it is the French control mark for 18k gold. The pearl is a half pearl, interestingly enough. No flaws at all other than the single tiny enamel nip on the bale. Gorgeous old thing, isn’t it.