150 YR. OLD 18K GOLD EGYPTIAN PENDANT

[shopaholics anonymous]

Hi, all!

I recently bought a pendant at the Portobello Market in Notting Hill, London. The old British guy who sold it to me for gbp175 claims it is an authentic 18k yellow gold vintage piece which is 150 years old and excavated from the tombs in Egypt.... could anyone tell me if this is authentic or could anyone refer me to a site where i can check its authenticity??

if anyone knows, what does the image on the pendant symbolize or mean??

i have attached photos for your reference.

THANKS!!

 

[AGBF]

Hi, shopaholics- I know nothing about ancient, or even antique, jewelry, although some of our members know a lot. I am thinking about glitterata and jewelryman, in particular, although other trades people would also know a lot! Like Old Miner!!!

My mind just wandered on the topic as follows, since I love gold: if you meant that you thought that this might be a truly ancient piece, it would mean that ancient Egyptians used an alloy of 18K gold. I wondered if that wouldn't be unusual for an ancient culture. I tend to think of them as using pure, or almost pure gold. 24K gold. I remember being awed by the gold in the Gold Museum in Bogota, Colombia where the pre-Columbian goldwork (24K) was displayed.

I may be wrong about the ancient Egyptians. I hope to learn more in this thread!

Deb/AGBF

 

[artdecogirl]

Very cool piece! It looks like many watch fobs I have seen and there were many egyptian revivals in the time they were used the most popular I think during the 1920's but as early as the last few years of the 1700's egyptian motifs were used and off and on through the 1800's also. I do not know if pendants like that were popular, hopefully some of the collectors here will chime in. Are those diamonds on the piece? If you knew the cut of the stones you might be able to better date it also and any markings on the metal? I do not know that the ancient egyptians used diamonds in that way, somehow I equate colored stones with them more then diamonds, I may have to look into this, you have piqued my curiosity! I would not think it is a ancient piece, it would be much older then 150 years would it not or is it a put together piece in the setting popular 150 years ago with ancient parts? Soapstone was used in egyptian jewelery and it has a bit of that look. Sorry to ramble on like this. Regardless it is a great piece, you should peruse ebay for a vintage chain for it, that would look fabulous! Good luck in your search!

 

[T L]

It looks like a European Victorian piece married with an Egyptian motif piece in there. The carving could have been added to the piece after the fact.

 

[movie zombie]

tourist momento from 150 years ago?

MoZo

 

[jewelerman]

this is a very interesting piece.Ive been looking at the photos and the the description and age doesn't seem right to me. i have my doubts and issues .First off i have a problem with the style and execution of carving and the paint colors and the glossy sheen of the black material which look more modern then ancient...they don't look to have age to me from the photo.What are the inlays on the sides of the carving?In my studies in Egyptology and all the books Ive read on ancient jewelry, Ive never seen a carving like this or even similar.The side stones are a red flag.The flat color of the gold has a grey undertone and lacks the bright yellow color of 18karat gold.Do i see a gray edge around the back of the piece ?this could indicate gold plate.The piece does have some signs of wear on the frame,but not on the carving.This piece is a watch fob style that was called a spinner. the style of fob was popular from about 1880 to as late as 1920.Ladies of this period wore spinner fobs that had lockets.If i had to commit to a judgement call from the photo and not handling it, i would say that its gold plate because of the perceived gray color ,and a tourist piece from Egypt maybe as early as 1910 to 1920ish because of the 1923 Egyptian revival and the inlay-ed side stones.There were several Egyptian style revivals... in the early 1800s, about the 1860s and the 1880s.Are there any marks at all on the piece?Regardless of what the piece actually is it is a very cool piece and should be worn on a neck chain or looped through a black silk neck cord.I PERSONALLY WOULD LOVE TO WEAR IT...VERY COOL.