Help finding info/history on antique locket

[jkath]

I know this is far fetched, but I thought I'd ask anyway...
Anyone out there have an idea as to where I can find information on a piece of jewelry from my Great great grandmother? Members of my family are trying to remember the history, or any significance of it, but aren't having much luck, as the woman it belonged to originally died of old age in the 1940s. Anyhow, if anyone knows of a site that is familiar with antique gold lockets and such, can you pass the info on? Thanks!

 

[Saphellae]

Try taking it to your local university or museum, they may be able to point you in the right direction. Do you have a picture of it? I'd love to see!

 

[LadyCook61]

If there isn't an appraiser near you, perhaps you can photograph the locket and email the photo to an appraiser.

 

[jpmcgrew]

I also would like to see a photo. Is it gold or silver dos it have any stamps or symbols on it to perhaps identify it's maker? They would usually be quite small.

 

[Barbara L]

I did a search for online jewelry appraisal and it brought up a lot of sites. Many of them looked worthwhile.

Barbara

 

[jkath]

Here's her photo. Years ago, my Grandma said she thought it looked like it should be Joan of Arc, since it's a woman with a helmet. But who knows?

 

[Barbara L]

That is beautiful jkath! Thank you for sharing.

Barbara

 

[Saphellae]

Is there any inscription or markings anywhere?

It looks similar to a Victorian French medallion seen...

http://images.mls.ca/listings/reb37/highres/0/8607200_4.jpg

 

[jkath]

ummmm...that's a lovely knotty pine kitchen you posted a link for...............


as for the markings, I looked through a loupe and found a hand inscribed " 3 5 " on the inside of both pieces. You can't see it without major magnification, though.

 

[Saphellae]

LOL!! woops.. one second

Big golden late victorian french medallion/locket signed rivet (ca.1880)

 

[texasgirl]

Maybe she's a rendetion of the Goddess, Athena.

 

[Saphellae]

You may be right, the photo's of other lockets/pendants are similar in the jut of her chin, the flow of her helmet at the back (is that horse hair or something? who knows), and the shape of the bottom back of the helmet..

 

[Saphellae]

They say that Nike got their swoosh from Athena's high helmet piece in the front.

 

[jkath]

Wow, Saphellae, I think you found her brother from that first link's photo! I haven't found anything so similar yet.

Stacy - could be Athena. She's a warrior kinda gal, isn't she?

You guys are great!

I am learning so much!

 

[Barbara L]

I also thought of Helen of Troy, but I'm not sure if she wore a helmet.

Barbara

 

[Saphellae]

tell me if this doesn't match..
seems you have a greek goddess on your hands. a beautiful piece!

 

[Saphellae]

I'd totally love to go to school for this. lol

My only question is that if it matches up with a greek goddess, why does the helmet have a french looking visor?

It can't be Helen of Troy, she wasn't a fighter.

Anyways I think it is Athena.

 

[Alix]

Saphellae, I think you're right on. Thats what I was going to suggest too. I think it is definitely greek. I'm not sure the locket itself would be greek but certainly the lady on it is greek styling. Jkath, maybe a quick research into whether or not Goddesses were a popular locket item in that era?

 

[Barbara L]

...It can't be Helen of Troy, she wasn't a fighter...

I didn't think so. For some reason the name just came up.

The nose definitely looks like early Roman or Greek art, so Athena sounds right.

Barbara

 

[Saphellae]

Alix, I think they were. One of the ones I found that was very close to Jkaths picture is from the 1880's, which is probably around the time his great great grandmother got hers.