RARE MEYLE & MAYER PANSY ENAMEL GUILLOCHE LOCKET ART DECO NOUVEAU ANTIQUE SILVER

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RARE MEYLE & MAYER PANSY ENAMEL GUILLOCHE LOCKET ART DECO NOUVEAU ANTIQUE SILVER:
$635.00

A rare antique pansy locket beautifully and vibrantly enameled on both sides. The locket bears the mark of Meyle & Mayer, the esteemed German jewelry maker circa 1900. It is also marked 900 for silver purity of the European standard. The front shows the pansy with cobalt blue on the outside rim, then white, then yellow melding into a deep red purple around the center, all with subtle detail and variations in the fine enamel work. It is set with a little perfectly formed pearl in the center. The back is enameled in thick bright glossy cornflower blue guilloche enamel with rays extending from the center. Although Meyle & Mayer are known for their enamel pansy locket pendants, this is a more unusual style for them, their more often seen style being a flat pansy that slides open.This style is reminiscent of the beautiful enameled pansy pocket and pendant watches that are seen by various makers of the same period, but also rarely.The locket is marked on the side by the bail. It is on the thin rim that is un-enameled and for this reason it is difficult to read being struck on such a thin surface. You can see the 900 that is always on Meyle & Mayer pieces, although it is not completely struck and the makers mark, although also not as clearly visible as it would be on a flat service, is also visible. I have magnified it as best as I am able. It is not really better seen anyway even with a jeweler\'s loop. The locket measures 1\" in diameter. It opens with a secure three part clasp as shown. It is opened by pushing the two little knobs on either side of the central clasp. The interior reveals gilt over silver interior with the original bezel frame on one side. There are remnants of what may be tarnish around the very rim of the interior, or it may be enamel from the enameling process of the front, as it does not remove easily with silver cleaner. There is a silver rim around the entire edge of the pansy\'s enamel work. The condition of the locket and the enamel is very fine and excellent. PLEASE NOTE that the bail is slightly twisted. I have included a close up photo to show that it is stable however. I have brought it to a jeweler who has confirmed that the bail is stable and can be used and that the locket can be worn on a chain. I asked him if he could straighten the bail and assure me that it would not damage it. He said he felt he could but could not guarantee 100% that it may not damage it if he were to straighten it. For this reason I am leaving it as is. Considering that we must accept these rare pieces as they are found, this is the way it has come down and so this is how it is being offered, especially considering that the bail is stable. Many people prefer to keep antique items as they come down and as they are found. If a buyer has a jeweler that can assure them completely that they can straighten the bail, then perhaps they can make that decision. My jeweler also said that it would of course need another bail or ring in order to be hung on a chain so that it would fall correctly. He offered to custom make one out of thick sterling wire but wanted me to specify how wide the ring should be and that would depend on what size chain you would want to use. He also offered alternatively to attach a contemporary standard sterling jewelry bail. Since this will all be up to the choice of the new owner, I have also decided to let him or her make those decisions, again considering that his charge for either custom ring or jeweler\'s bail was merely $20. The locket weighs 11.53 grams.