I saw some truly spectacular pieces of jewelry at the Original Miami Antique Show. I’m still deep into editing the many, many photos I took….and I look forward to sharing those treasures with you soon.
One of those pieces was a locket – a locket so fantastic and utterly, utterly, odd – that I just couldn’t wait any longer to show it to you.
My favorite part of this locket is the mystery that it represents. This portrait is so very strange that nobody – not the jewelry store who owns it, not me, not any of the other collectors who have looked at it – can figure out what the heck it means. This kind of design from this era was certainly intended to reference or represent something specific, but it remains a enigma for now.
Unless, of course, you can help me solve the mystery?
Here’s what we know: this 18 karat yellow gold antique locket dates to the late the Victorian era and features a stylized enamel portrait of a woman surrounded by a frame of rose cut diamonds. It’s currently for sale by Craig Evan Small.
Have you ever seen anything like her?! So wonderfully bizarre.
Her dress seems to be at least partly architectural; Craig Evan Small’s description says the skirt looks like a column, and I agree. And her feet seem to be some kind of…building element, perhaps, or tool?
The vaguely architectural theme continues with the item in the locket lady’s hand. I thought it might be some kind of surveyor’s tool, but my research didn’t turn up anything that looks like it at all.
I did find this, a Lady’s Archery Score Kit, but apparently this would have been fairly small and designed to hang from the belt like a chatelaine, while our locket lady’s mystery item appears to be much larger. And then there’s her hat…which I have no insight into whatsoever.
There are two pictures inside of the locket, but they don’t offer any additional clues. They’re pretty cute, though.
Can any of you solve this locket’s mystery? Who is this vaguely architectural lady, and what is she trying to tell us?
Top photo is my own, all other photos are c/o Craig Evan Small.
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What she is holding is a plumb bob, a weight attached to a string used by builders / architects to determine a vertical reference line. This makes sense, since all of her other elements are architectural.
What a superb piece of jewelry. Simply drooling!
Isn’t she amazing?? So fascinating.
I have done my research and too had consult with some of my friends, but not found any clue. l I am waiting to hear from some of my friends. Hope to get some clue.
Thank you for asking around, Kally! This piece is just so fascinating and I love all of the discussion it’s inspiring.
I wish I could see it in person but without reading anyone’s comments I will tell you what I see.
I definitely see a column but not out of marble more like celluloid or similar. I see a measuring tape on upper bodice and wool that has been spun ( the top like thing). I see buttons almost like a pin cushion above the column. I think the clouds are fresh balls of wool. I think the feet do represent some tool. Are the initials on the feet? F M MM G
The column could be representing wool as well. It almost looks like a wishbone on one ankle and a forefinger on the other. I see a couple daisies in the picture faintly
Check out antique wool spinning needs WOW !
I have no information to add; just wanted to say how fascinating all of this discussion is!
I completely agree – this is officially one of my favorite posts ever. I love how people are getting so into it! I have the best readers.
Definite vibes from this John William Waterhouse painting La Fileuse (“the spinner/the weaver”),1874. She isn’t specifically identified as Clotho (one of the 3 fates) or Arachne but clearly appears to be a classical figure. https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:La_Fileuse_-_John_William_Waterhouse.jpg
Oh, you’re totally right, Erin!!! I think you’re really onto something here.
i’m also wondering if there are some coded masonic or other secret society references here. the items she holds, are as others observed, a drop spindle and a distaff with what looks like unbleached flax fiber (tow). the dress is indeed a classical column, apparently of porphyry stone, the shoes appear to be either planes for wood-working (maybe?), or else another building element; and the ornament and structure of her dress at the hip/belly area is more classical building ornament, including a laurel garland which traditionally denotes victory, skill, mastery. the way the oval ornament is placed, and its slightly convex appearance, almost omphalos-like, make me think a reference to fertility/fecundity was intended, although perhaps in a generally creative rather than specifically child-bearing sense. her bicornute headdress looks vaguely medieval, and seems to have cascades of bells hanging from each horn. sometimes horned headdresses reference the deities diana or artemis with a crescent moon association, but it’s hard to know what was intended here. those horns, by the way, went by a number of names, one of which was “templars”, which could be significant? i cannot see well enough to determine if her girdle/sash/skirt top (the purple bit) has any ornamentation…it looks almost as if there might be stars scattered across it. if so, that could be interesting; the constellation of orion’s belt was associated with norse goddesses who ruled over spinning, such as frigg. columns are, of course, important in masonic symbology, as are levels, compasses, “squares”, and less commonly calipers, rulers, mason’s trowels, and mallets. the fact that her colomn-dress is apparently porphyry *may* be a reference to the ancient philosopher of that name, who with another neo-platonist named plotinus wrote about the “grand chain of being”, also called the “ladder of nature”, which was influential in masonic belief. or it may not!
i will observe that the particular combination of symbolic references in this piece is most unusual to me, at least, and someone with more specialist knowledge of masonry and perhaps of carpenters’ guilds, could be helpful. those architectural and neoclassical elements are very oddly combined with her headdress and the spinning seems oddly assorted as well, unless the whole thing is to be read as a kind of pangloss of mastery! in short, i’ve not seen anything quite like this before, and i do hope that if you eventually find out more about the piece, that you will post again with an update…
looks like a distaff and drop spindle to me. I have them and use them.
Have to say, looking at pics- thats what she’s holding! So are her feet shuttles??
Not that I can tell. I have quite a few of those that I use as well, including some that are too old to use. I would tend to agree with your thought that they would be planes.
Ooh, maybe!! I found this: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/inventions-of-the-industrial-revolution.html#flying-shuttle
I wonder if the whole thing is some kind of textile industry reference, then?
So, one of the three fates holds spindle and distaff… could be an odd reference to the fates?
I have a couple of flying shuttles. What throws me off of that here, is the pointed staff at the toe of each foot. That doesn’t look right. Doesn’t look like a carpet loom weight, either, that I can see.
Will look around a bit more.
Oh my goodness! I googled distaff and drop spindle and now I’m seeing that more than the surveyor tool. I still have no insight on the rest of it, though.
I think the tool in her hand is a plumb bob. It would/ could be a surveyor’s tool. As soon as I saw it that’s what I thought it was and hubby (son of a surveyor) agrees. We don’t have any other info on the rest of the bizarreness though.
After doing some google searches, I think her feet are planes- like you would use to smooth or shave wood. I thought they were bricks (and maybe they are- the one ends in what looks like a G- which would add to the Masonic angle). The way they attach at the ankle makes me think plane. Still searching. Cannot find anything in Masonic art like her…
You’re on fire, Catherine!! Thank you so finding so many new clues to this mystery.
Yes!!! I’m so glad someone else is with me on the surveyor vibe. I think it definitely looks more like a plumb bob than anything else.
Could it be something Masonic?
I have no idea!! But I have a friend who’s good with Masonic imagery – I’ll pass the idea along!