Victorian Gold Filled Swivel Locket Brooch Pendant Hair & Ambrotype Photo

Description

Victorian Gold Filled Swivel Locket Brooch Pendant Hair & Ambrotype Photo
Pre-owned.  From an estate. Beautiful piece of mourning jewelry. Inserts measure 1 1/4" x 1 1/16".  One holds an ambrotype of a young woman.  When I removed the insert, I found many scratches on the coating that covers the back of the ambrotype glass.  Viewing from the front, the image is very hard to see.  Hand painted gold necklace on the women.  Her lips and eyes may be painted as well.  Lips are very white as the sclera (whites of the eyes).  Possibly a post mortem photo. The other insert holds tightly woven human hair.  At first I thought it was a piece of cloth until I looked at the edges closely under a loupe.  You can see fine hair strands.  That must have taken a long time to weave that.  Most likely the woman's hair.  The center portion swivels so you can wear either way.  Has a bale to hold a chain so can be worn as a pendant or a brooch.  The entire brooch/pendant measures 1 7/8" x 2 1/8". Some gold fill wear as to be expected.  Could use a light cleaning.