Antique Victorian Taille D Epergne Enamel Locket Pendant . Blue White Black Enameled Necklace . 14K Gold Filled Rope Chain

Antique Victorian Taille D Epergne Enamel Locket Pendant . Blue White Black Enameled Necklace . 14K Gold Filled Rope Chain

A really lovely gold filled Taille d'epargné enamel locket that is beautifully decorated on both sides. The front features engraving filled with black, blue and white enamel on a textures gold surface. The reverse is an engraved design, no enamel. The tiny locket opens to reveal two compartments for photos, along with original papers. (No rings or glass) The locket is not signed but I feel confident that is is gold filled, it is very high quality. It hangs from a delicate 14K gold filled rope chain, that measures 17 inches long and antique swivel hook. The chain is not original to the locket but compliments it nicely and marked 14K GF on the spring clasp. The locket measures 7/8 x 1/2 inch without the attached ring. The condition is very good, there is no loss to the enameling and the gold surface is just beautiful.

HISTORY:
Taille d'epargné, sometimes referred to as black enamel tracery, translates from the French literally as "saving cut." It is a variation of champlevé whereby engraved lines forming a design are incised into the metal and are filled with opaque enamel- usually black - like basse taille enamel but without the subtle depth variations. This technique was often used to decorate bracelets, watch cases, chatelaines and mourning jewelry. Taille d'epargné remained in vogue through the mid-1850s when it was mass produced by the Birmingham firms. The Birmingham style was imitated in the United States c.1860, but American taille d'epargné was employed on burnished or bloomed gold to highlight engraving. By the 1870s fashion turned to translucent enamel over engine-turned patterns (guilloche enamel.)

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