From the merchant's listing:
Rendered in 15k yellow gold, the pendant takes the form of a stringed musical instrument — a lute with neck and teardrop shaped body. Fashioned from ornate cannetille work of three-dimensional beehives, flowerheads, burrs, tendrils and coils, the intricacy of the filigree-like gold wire work is phenomenal. Dotted throughout the body, nine (9) turquoise cabochons of 2 mm add a hint of bright color to the 15k yellow gold. To the reverse a glass covered locket compartment is centered. Even the tiny gold strings are so like the real thing one is tempted to pluck them expecting notes to emerge.
A series of four chains suspends the pendant from an ornate open work gold ring embellished with six (6) turquoise cabochons. Threaded through the ring is a sumptuous matching chain comprised of two textured links which when combined with the sequential link form an open box. A rectangular tongue and groove clasp embellished with patterning finishes the chain.
The work of the earliest decades of the 19th century are marked by a move to the ornate and romantic. The previous era from about 1790 to about 1810 were all about the neoclassical, geometry, and the use of simpler materials such as enamels. But as the century progressed the romanticism and symbolic dominating and gold work from repousee to cannetille work became the techniques of choice.
This lute pendant necklace is a classic example of this with its motif suggesting music, the romantic and a hearkening back to former centuries as the lute's era ended around 1750 with its heyday the Renaissance and the Baroque.
Date: Circa 1820.
Pendant: 2-1/2 inches (6.4 cm) in length including bale by 2 inches (2.5 cm) in width. Weight of 12.1 grams.
Chain: 26-1/4 inches (66.7 cm) in length and is 1/4 of an inch (0.6 cm) at the widest. Weight of 16.0 grams.
Condition: Excellent. Clasp on chain is a lovely match but may have been added later and likely dates to circa 1850.
Origin: English or European.
Three Graces Antiques
