Help with old locket

[wessleysbest]

I want to list this lovely old locket.  My main question is should I replace all of the tiny seed pearls that are in such poor condition?  I have the seed pearls on hand and there are some missing on the piece but would really not blend well with what is there and would have to replace all.    Also, I am thinking that the sweet bale might help with dating the locket but can't find another quite like it.  Am I right in decribing the piece as chased Art Nouveau?  Thank you so much for looking!

[mforjan]

Nice locket! If it were me, I would replace all the pearls and disclose that in the listing.

[thirry]

Personally, I'd replace the seed pearls. The locket is in good condition and I assume you're not claiming a particulat designer?  I'd say "chased" would be a good sedcription.  Based on the chain, I'd guess the locket and chain are pretty old.

With all due respect, it really doesn't fall into an Art Nouveau category.  Victorian, maybe, but neither Art Nouveau nor Art Deco.

Pretty piece!

[old.crows.nest]

I might call this style either Aesthetic or Edwardian.

[old.crows.nest]

Is the bale also part of the locket clasp?

I found this completed listing:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/WAFER-THIN-LOCKET-ANTIQUE-VICTORIAN-EDWARDIAN-STERLING-SQUARE-STRIPED-SIGNE...

[1940fc]

I agree..I`d replace them all & disclose. 

 Has the clasp has been replaced?  Looks lighter than the other metal & I`d think it would have had an older type clasp.

It`s very nice!

[wessleysbest]

Thank you all so much.....

I'm so glad you feel like replacing the seed pearls is a good option because I'm looking forward to the task!

OCN- Thanks for the link.  My bale is about the same shape but mine is not "fixed", it slides slightly side to side.    I will go with Edwardian.

1940 - I wondered about the clasp too but it is marked GF so I wondered if it would stay brighter over the years.

now, Thirry - bless your heart...."with all due respect"?  The respect due me is very little when it comes to jewelry.   Thank you for your insight and gentleness.

Karen

[hollyblue83]

The design  on the locket is not chased,it is die stamped.

[zienty]

Have you carefully looked under the green paper where the pictures go? Many times that's where lockets are marked as to metal and maker. But be careful. It's sometimes a trick to get the frames back in correctly.

[bluedaemon23]

The clasp is pretty definitely a replacement. Not only don't the metals match, but it's a newer type of spring ring, the ends of the ring where it attaches to the chain don't meet up properly (indicating the ring has been spread and re-closed), and I'm also suspicious of the lack of a jump ring on the other side.

Definitely replace the seed pearls.

Aesthetic would be a good term. The design reminds me of the pseudo-medievalism of William Morris and the Pre-Raphaelites.