Vintage Antique Retro pendant locket. Gold rubies sapphires. Made circa 1940, possibly in the USA.
Measurements:
Weight is 18.6 grams. Approximately 1 1/2 inches top to bottom.
Description :
Large pendant locket that makes a bold statement of love and more. Combines romance and science. Deeply symbolic. The pendant with a voluminous heart, very 3-dimentional and round that swivels on a central gold axis. The pendant is set throughout with rubies and sapphires in star-shaped indentations. The central axis of the heart supports a pair of Armillary spheres (meridian arches) such as those surrounding a globe of the earth or the planets. The rich symbolism of the heart and the universe are discussed in the story below.
The back of the heart, as fully 3-dimentional as the front, has an open space covered by a golden grid that can contain a memento of a loved one, a small message or love note.
The intricate rotating jewel mimics the astronomical instrument and the movement adds to the eye-catching design. Guaranteed to be a favored conversation starter, with a heart that symbolizes love as the guiding force of the universe and a powerful metaphor for harmony between science and emotion.
Marks and Metal:
no marks found. electronic tested as slightly under 14k (13.1-13.2k).
Condition:
Good with negligible wear commensurate with age. Please see enlarged pictures and don't hesitate to ask questions which we will do our best to answer.
THE STORY:
The armillary spheres are a framework of rings that surround a globe of our planet, earth or other planets in the universe. The device consists of a skeletal sphere built from interlocking rings (called armillae) that represent celestial circles such as the equator, meridian, tropics, and the ecliptic. Armillary spheres are significant as both scientific instruments and a cultural symbol, representing humanity’s attempt to model and understand symbolism of astronomy, exploration, and the harmony of the cosmos. Borrowing from this enormous universal symbol, the pendant encloses a heart within armillary spheres, signifying the enormity of love and everything related to it. The stars on the surface add to the theme. We can interpret the symbolism as the universality of love and how it faces and reaches every direction. The relatively large size and rich volume of the pendant combined with the twinkling of the rubies and sapphire stars emphasize the symbolism.
Page 338 of the book: Rings Jewelry of Power, Love and Loyalty, shows a 4 hooped armillary ring, created in the 17th century for a person with scientific interests.
