Rare PANSY Photo LOCKET Mourning RING French Victorian Art Nouveau Solid Silver

  

Old, very rare and wonderful Victorian Art Nouveau Mourning ring - this piece is very unique in that is has a removable beveled glass panel that you can slide out of the ring, to insert a photo, lock of hair or flower behind. So it is a mourning locket in the form of a ring (instead of a pendant). This is an antique piece from the Belle Epoque period that I acquired in France. Each side of the ring has an acid etched and engraved pansy flower in an Art Nouveau design standing out of the thick band with the stem running down towards the back of the band.

The flower head is raised above a textured background with delicate etched engraving. The pansy flower is a symbol of remembrance. The name "pansy" is derived from the French word pensée, "thought".

It universally meant "think of me, " so it would also serve as a very romantic gift or for yourself as a locket ring to display your sweetheart. I have put a photo of an ornament and pinecones from a Christmas catalog behind the frame, just to demonstrate use. PLEASE NOTE: Kindly use caution when replacing the image with your own photo or flower.

When a photograph with thick paper is behind the removable glass pane, it provides enough tension between the glass and the side tracks of the ring to hold the pane in place so the glass does not wobble. You will see when you swap out the image that if you put a thin piece of paper behind it, it will wobble and slide free with wear. This antique glass picture frame pane was cut perfectly with smoothed edges to fit this ring so it is amazing that it has stayed with the piece and would be difficult to replace if it were lost.

So I just wanted to add a note of extra caution before you wear it to make sure that the glass pane is nice and snug. The hallmarks are long gone but it tests and is guaranteed to be solid silver. It polished up nicely and has a nice patina and shine of the raised polished areas, it is clearly not plated or base metal. It is a size 7 3/4.

The face of the ring where an image or flower would go is about a centimeter square. A few surface scratches and a nick to the smooth face of the rounded glass pane, visible when you study the surface close up in a reflection. No cracks, the ring assembles and functions wonderfully. Some surface wear and scratching, especially to the band.

A few stubborn tarnish spots, it could be polished further if desired but I like the patina in the background to show the high relief flowers on each side. Note there is some stubborn tarnish on the hard to polish areas inside the band that may rub off on the finger slightly until the tarnish is removed. Due to age, please note this is not a mint condition item.

Still many years left in this old beauty from an interesting period in history. I dearly love, collect, use and sell antiques so please check out my other listings and thanks so much for stopping by my store! The item "Rare PANSY Photo LOCKET Mourning RING French Victorian Art Nouveau Solid Silver" is in sale since Wednesday, November 25, 2020. This item is in the category "Jewelry & Watches\Vintage & Antique Jewelry\Fine\Victorian, Edwardian 1837-1910\Mourning Jewelry".

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, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa rica, Panama, Trinidad and tobago, Guatemala, 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, Ecuador, Egypt, French guiana, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Iceland, Jersey, Jordan, Cambodia, Cayman islands, Liechtenstein, Sri lanka, Luxembourg, Monaco, Macao, Martinique, Maldives, Nicaragua, Oman, Peru, Pakistan, Paraguay, Reunion, Viet nam, Uruguay.

1. Motif: Pansy, Floral, Flower, Remembrance, Think of Me
2. Brand: Unknown
3. Main Stone: Glass Garnet
4. Metal: Solid Silver
5. Era: Victorian
6. Type: Locket
7. Metal Purity: Unknown
8. Country/Region of Manufacture: France
9. Style: Mourning