MASQUERADE Victorian ANTIQUE Rose Cut Diamond Pearl ENAMEL 14k Gold Solid Locket MultiColor Masked Spanish

ABOUT:

A nice sized antique oval locket with a Spanish flare. These masquerade motifs are always very popular and here is one with a highly detailed image of a Spanish Señorita with rose cut diamond eyes amidst her mask, with tiny seed pearls set into her floral hairdo and fan. Amazing detail with little dancing figures at the top of the fan. Dates to the late 1800s and such an appropriate Spanish motif considering I found it in Barcelona. I don't have a ton of Spanish pieces and I love this one as I studied the Spanish language both there and in Madrid - but that almost feel like a lifetime ago now. : )

Inside the locket, each side has a gold frame with pane and red fabric. I removed it to check for hallmarks and you can see inside where the enamel work was poured through to create the design. I couldn't find any hallmarks but sold to me as 14k and tested to confirm. It looks like there might have been some hallmarks on the loops where Europe typically stamps but they are too worn to make out. There are hand etched roman numerals on each side of the locket - this let the maker know which two sides were nested together since it was hand assembled in the Victorian period.

Antique boxes, pendants / displays and any additional items in photos are not included. Please note the measurements as I have small hands and it can be difficult to decipher scale from photos.

MEASUREMENTS:
34mm to the top of the attached loop by 25mm / 1 inch wide. It is 7.5mm deep.
Weight is a sturdy 8.2 grams.

IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:

Sadly someone deeply scratch tested the back (it wasn't me! why would they do that!?) So please look for that in photos. Not visible when wearing. The pearls were definitely fortified with adhesive residue around them and they have warmth and discoloration but they are all present and the enamel is in good shape. The pearls are teeny tiny so they pale in comparison to the artwork. While the pearls may be a little imperfect, the design is legible and fabulous with just some nicks and surface wear to the enamel but no loss to the underlying gold so the graphic is very clear. Some pin dings to the back along with that deep scratch but the front side just has light surface wear to the shiny gold outline around the figure.

Please also note that I take some photos / videos in the sunshine because it captures the lovely color, but it also highlights any surface wear, scratches, etc. that can catch the light, making these things appear worse than they would with normal day to day wear. : ) Hopefully the pics in all lightning conditions help as they serve as part of the description.

Please note that all my pieces are pre-owned and in estate condition. They will have patina, surface wear, a few small nicks. These pieces may also have evidence of a sizing, some build up around the stones and / or inclusions seen under magnification, typical for antique pieces. I have mentioned any noticeable issues above and they are all still wearable and eager to be loved and accepted for many years to come, (the preservation of antique jewelry, even those with signs of their age and history, is important to me. : )
But - Please note due to age, this piece is not in mint condition. Pictures also serve as part of the description and condition report so please utilize the zoom feature which will magnify any wear significantly more than what is visible to the eye while wearing : )

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SOCIAL:
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