Fine Antique French 18k Gold and Hair Art Memorial Pendant, Mother of Pearl Mourning Victorian Era

Found last trip to Paris, this is a deep and elegantly crafted 18k gold mourning jewelry piece, perhaps was a brooch initially but at this time it has been fitted with 2 pole fittings on back, to be worn most likely on a velvet ribbon as a choker. I’m showing it on a delicate chain, simply looped through the 2 poles on back as a pendant. I think you’d love it worn on seed pearls, which also would thread through the brackets on back. I’ll do that and add a photo. Deep, the delicate hair art is worked on a white opaline oval of glass, but the work is backed by an oval of mother of pearl. I didn’t try to pry it in order to get to and lightly clean the tiny tiny bits of dust you see in our greatly enlarged images. The ruffled 18k gold outer frame of the locket shows a very delicately crafted garland of flowers, and is just beautiful! Full measurements noted on the photos.

Very good to excellent condition for age and type, I see nothing at all to report as a flaw other than a light dusting on the interior of the cover glass, not as visible to the naked eye as it is in our greatly enlarged photos. The monogram surrounded by a Laurel Crown is “MLC”. Such a beauty. I did not try to open it up to lightly blow away the dust.