Unique motif on this antique Art Nouveau to Art Deco retractible chatelaine pencil. The body of the pencil is a checkered niello pattern and the handle, tip and inner workings are accented in beautiful rose gold vermeil. When you pull the end by the loop it retracts the pencil exposing the inside rose gold. NOTE - it needs a lead refill on the suitable size lead, but we tested it with some smaller lead and the twist mechanism at the top does work to expand and retract so all seems in well working condition. Eye catching motif on this French piece from the Belle Epoque period.
The piece measures 2 1/2 inches in length with the components inside, retracted it extends to 4 1/2. There are a few checkers near the top of the handle where the pattern looks a bit off - this is where the boar's head hallmark strike is, for French solid silver items.Please note that all my pieces are pre-owned with some age to them so they are in estate condition. But this is an awesome piece. The rose gold is beautiful and the niello is nice and vibrant. That irregular area around the hallmark, when you look at it under magnification you can see a bit of niello loss to about 10 of the tiny squares, but the squares underneath the niello are textured to hold the niello fabrication in place, so even with the loss, it still appears dark and continues the checker pattern. Some wear to the rose gold on the pull part of the pencil and rim.
No pin dings or dents, surprisingly.. Some faint surface wear and scratching from use and polishing over the years but the design is excellent. Pencil closes tightly so it will be secure worn as a pendant. But Please note that due to age this piece is not in mint condition.
Thanks for stopping by my store! The item "NIELLO Rose Gold SOLID Silver Checker Chatelaine Pencil Pendant French Victorian" is in sale since Friday, October 29, 2021. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Pens & Writing Instruments\Pencils\Mechanical". The seller is "callmemouse" and is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This item can be shipped to United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Japan, China, Sweden, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, South africa, Thailand, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Bahamas, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi arabia, Ukraine, United arab emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Croatia, Malaysia, Chile, Colombia, Costa rica, Dominican republic, Panama, Trinidad and tobago, Guatemala, El salvador, Honduras, Jamaica, Antigua and barbuda, Aruba, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Saint kitts and nevis, Saint lucia, Montserrat, Turks and caicos islands, Barbados, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Brunei darussalam, Bolivia, Egypt, French guiana, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Iceland, Jersey, Jordan, Cambodia, Cayman islands, Liechtenstein, Sri lanka, Luxembourg, Monaco, Macao, Martinique, Maldives, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Reunion, Uruguay, Russian federation.