Gorgeous Antique Americana 1950's Brass + Copper Locket Pendant + Copper Chain

Description: Gorgeous Antique Brass and Copper Locket 1950's. Genuine brass/copper locket suitable for picture of or keepsake from a loved one. Chain: Contemporary bronze tone 45 centimeters (18 inches). A wide variety of other chains are available upon request in sizes from 16 to 30 inches, and in metals ranging from gold and silver electroplate to sterling silver and solid 14kt gold. The default chain (absent contrary instructions) is copper, 17 inches. Vital Statistics: Weight: 16.55 grams. Length: 50mm (including 4mm bail). Width: 39mm. Thickness: 4 1/2mm. A gorgeous, unused brass and copper locket, fully functional, about fifty years old. The casing is made of brass, and the insert is copper. The photo inserts, which are set into both halves of the locket, each measure about 33*25 millimeters (1 1/4 x 1 inches). The locket is of course hinged, and has a functional catch so the contents of the locket are secure. It was handcrafted in the middle of the last century, and they are rather difficult to find - especially in unused condition. We have available, if you desire and so request, a matching copper and brass chain about 43 centimeters (17 inches) in length. The locket is in perfect condition. Historically lockets have been very popular both to hold the image of a loved on, as well as a repository for keepsakes such as a lock of hair, etc. For use as a place to keep and protect valuable keepsakes, they have been employed for thousands of years, stretching all the back into prerecorded history. Human remains uncovered in excess of ten thousand years old have been found to be wearing a leather "locket", containing amongst other items, flint and fire starting material, herbs and medicines, and keepsakes such as gaming dice (bone knuckles), magical amulets and objects, etc. Eventually metal lockets on a chain replaced the use of a leather pouch on a cord, but the purpose remained the same. With the coming of photography, lockets became very popular during the Victorian era. More often than not they contained the photographic image of a loved one, or the image of a husband and wife, or a family portrait of husband and wife and children. Even today such antique lockets are enormously popular and valuable collectibles. Though this locket contains no such photograph (it was unused), it was nonetheless designed to carry two photographs and remains perfectly suitable for such a use. The use of lockets to display the image of a loved on traces its roots back to cameos, carved shells and gemstones which were carved so as to preserve an image of a dear or loved one, or a god or goddess, etc. Cameos have been a popular form of artistic jewelry for around 2,500 years. Although some sources put the origin of cameo carving in Hellenic Alexandria, Egypt in the late fourth century B.C., evidence suggests that the Greeks brought it with them. In any event, cameos were extremely popular in the Greco-Roman world. The most popular form of cameo in the Roman world was the intaglio cameo, where the image was carved out of the gemstone forming a recess. Typically the medium was transparent/translucent orange carnelian. Another style of cameo was historically produced from sea shells or translucent or opaque gemstones such as banded agate. Here the image was cut in relief - successive of layers of material cut away to produce an image. Relief cameos from semi-precious stones such as agate were more common in the ancient world. Those carved from sea shells came much later, Medieval or Renaissance in origin. Domestic shipping (insured first class mail) is included in the price shown. Domestic shipping also includes USPS Delivery Confirmation (you might be able to update the status of your shipment on-line at the USPS Web Site). Canadian shipments are an extra $16.99 for Insured Air Mail; International shipments are an extra $20.99 for Air Mail (and generally are NOT tracked; trackable shipments are EXTRA). ADDITIONAL PURCHASES do receive a VERY LARGE discount, typically about $5 per item so as to reward you for the economies of combined shipping/insurance costs. Your purchase will ordinarily be shipped within 48 hours of payment. We package as well as anyone in the business, with lots of protective padding and containers. We do NOT recommend uninsured shipments, and expressly disclaim any responsibility for the loss of an uninsured shipment. Unfortunately the contents of parcels are easily “lost” or misdelivered by postal employees – even in the USA. If you intend to pay via PayPal, please be aware that PayPal Protection Policies REQUIRE insured, trackable shipments, which is INCLUDED in our price. International tracking is at additional cost. We do offer U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail, Registered Mail, and Express Mail for both international and domestic shipments, as well United Parcel Service (UPS) and Federal Express (Fed-Ex). Please ask for a rate quotation. We will accept whatever payment method you are most comfortable with. If upon receipt of the item you are disappointed for any reason whatever, I offer a no questions asked return policy. Send it back, I will give you a complete refund of the purchase price (less our original shipping costs). We travel to Russia each year seeking antique gemstones and jewelry from one of the globe’s most prolific gemstone producing and cutting centers, the area between Chelyabinsk and Yekaterinburg, Russia. From all corners of Siberia, as well as from India, Ceylon, Burma and Siam, gemstones have for centuries gone to Yekaterinburg where they have been cut and incorporated into the fabulous jewelry for which the Czars and the royal families of Europe were famous for. My wife grew up and received a university education in the Southern Urals of Russia, just a few hours away from the mountains of Siberia, where alexandrite, diamond, emerald, sapphire, chrysoberyl, topaz, demantoid garnet, and many other rare and precious gemstones are produced. Though perhaps difficult to find in the USA, antique gemstones are commonly unmounted from old, broken settings – the gold reused – the gemstones recut and reset. Before these gorgeous antique gemstones are recut, we try to acquire the best of them in their original, antique, hand-finished state – most of them centuries old. We believe that the work created by these long-gone master artisans is worth protecting and preserving rather than destroying this heritage of antique gemstones by recutting the original work out of existence. That by preserving their work, in a sense, we are preserving their lives and the legacy they left for modern times. Far better to appreciate their craft than to destroy it with modern cutting. Not everyone agrees – fully 95% or more of the antique gemstones which come into these marketplaces are recut, and the heritage of the past lost. But if you agree with us that the past is worth protecting, and that past lives and the produce of those lives still matters today, consider buying an antique, hand cut, natural gemstone rather than one of the mass-produced machine cut (often synthetic or “lab produced”) gemstones which dominate the market today. Our interest in the fabulous history of Russian gemstones and the fabulous jewelry of the Czar’s led to further education and contacts in India, Ceylon, and Siam, other ancient centers of gemstone production and finishing. We have a number of “helpers” (family members, friends, and colleagues) in Russia and in India who act as eyes and ears for us year-round, and in reciprocity we donate a portion of our revenues to support educational institutions in Russia and India. Occasionally while in Russia, India, Siam, and Ceylon we will also find such good buys on unique contemporary gemstones and jewelry that we will purchase a few pieces to offer to our customers here in America. These are always offered clearly labeled as contemporary, and not antiques – just to avoid confusion. We can set most any antique gemstone you purchase from us in your choice of styles and metals ranging from rings to pendants to earrings and bracelets; in sterling silver, 14kt solid gold, and 14kt gold fill. When you purchase from us, you can count on quick shipping and careful, secure packaging. We would be happy to provide you with a certificate/guarantee of authenticity for any item you purchase from us. There is a $2 fee for mailing under separate cover. Please see our "ADDITIONAL TERMS OF SALE."

Price: 27.99 USD

Location: Lummi Island, Washington

End Time: 2025-01-03T22:08:01.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD