PAIR ANTIQUE FRENCH 14K GOLD SEPIA & HAIR WORK MINIATURE MOURNING LOCKETS c1780

Description

A pair of antique solid 14 carat gold (test thereabouts) double-sided mourning lockets; one for wear as a brooch, the other as a pendant, and both with glasses to each side holding finely hand-painted sepia & hair work miniatures, including: a plinth topped with a winged hourglass reading 'Unis Pour Toujours' - 'United For Always', under a weeping willow; a river scene involving reeds and butterflies around an Ouroboros snake (symbolising eternity) circling the initials 'JPF ACF B'; an urn-topped plinth, under a weeping willow and surrounded by cypress trees, reading 'Resle Cherie' (? Sweetheart); and a vignette depicting reeds around the same initials 'JPF ACF B'.
A wonderful pair of Georgian mourning items...most intriguing, fabulously collectable & so wearable!
CONDITION
: All original and very good. Slight signs of wear through age & use. Shallow denting here & there. Some slight displacement to locket contents - see pictures. One glass a little loose, easily secured. Pendant bail possibly an old addition.
DATE/MARKS
: Around 1780/90. Illegible gold marks.
DIMENSIONS
: Both 38 x 33 mm (1 inch = 25.4 mm). To give an impression of scale, the coin is 19 mm or ¾ of an inch diameter.
WEIGHT
: Approx. 35.4 grams together.
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