German Enamel Locket with Marcasite on Silver Chain
You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item
When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.
- Marcasite - Marcasite is a mineral, iron sulphide, but is rarely used in jewellery. Instead marcasite is the name given to iron pyrites, the mineral sold as marcasite which is identical in copmosition to iron sulphide but crystalises as a cube, making it more suitable for jewellery. It is a brassy yellow in colour and is also known as "fool's gold", and sits well with silver rather than gold becasue of its colour.
Marcasite has been used in jewellery since ancient times and became popular again in jewellery in the 18th century, continuing through to the early 20th century, with the settings becoming cheaper as time progressed, eventually earning the sobriquet "costume jewellery" along with other cheap jewellery that was made for a prevailing pattern and meant to be changed with each new outfit.
This item has been included into following indexes:
-
necklaces, set with
- enamel, silver 65
- marcasite 73
- necklaces, style or type - chains, other materials 952
Visually similar items
Vintage miniature silver purse, with marcasite and engraved decoration. Length 3.5 cm
An opal pendant, solid oval cut opal, 9 carat gold bezel set, with gold plated chain. Weight pendant 0.5g.
An antique shell cameo portrait brooch. The finely carved oval cameo depicting a mythological portrait mounted in an elaborate gold frame with acorn and leaf decoration, having a glazed portrait section to the reverse suspended from a gold curb link chain
Lot 173: a 9ct gold pendant necklace; 60 mm drop centrepiece set with onyx, seed pearls and two emeralds. Length 45 cm. Wt. 5.8g