Far Eastern Splendour

Antique High-Carat Gold Locket by Leeching, China c. 1870

€ 2,490.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Antique High-Carat Gold Locket by Leeching, China c. 1870

Description

This description was automatically translated from German. If you have any questions about this piece of jewellery, we will be happy to help!

This antique locket shimmers wonderfully in the warm color of high-carat gold. Its cover is adorned with a detailed embossed depiction full of Far Eastern magic. On one side we see a luxuriant swarm of sea creatures. Fish, mussels, snails, crabs and shrimps cavort in front of aquatic plants. The other side is adorned with a view of a house with a surrounding garden in which four people are going about their work. This piece of jewelry was created in China around 1870. It is a typical export piece, made primarily for the European market. For centuries, silver and gold were the only accepted means of payment in China, with which European traders could purchase the coveted goods of the empire, such as silk, porcelain and tea. A return flow of the precious metal to Europe was prevented by the state. It was not until the attacks by the British from the middle of the 19th century that the empire lost power and Chinese precious metals became accessible to foreign buyers. The goldsmiths and silversmiths specialized in the wishes of the new customers and initially mainly produced pieces in the European taste. Towards the end of the 19th century, however, international customers increasingly demanded classical Chinese motifs. The locket comes from the Leeching company, which was active from around 1830 to 1895. Leeching had branches in the major port cities of Hong Kong, Shanghai and Guangzhou and quickly became known for the exceptional quality of its work, which blended traditional Chinese motifs with Western influences. Although the depictions on this pendant are classically Chinese, the shape of the locket is clearly Western. The piece of jewellery is crafted from exceptionally high-carat gold, as is typical of antique Chinese jewellery. Our pendant once found its way to England, where we discovered it for you in London. This is also indicated by the central shield with the engraved monogram "GN". Inside the locket, two small frames offer the opportunity to store two photographs. We have added a matching gold chain to this well-preserved piece of jewelry so that it can be worn immediately.

Size & Details

Far Eastern Splendour

€ 2,490.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Our Promise

We want you to be 100% satisfied! For that reason, we examine, describe and photograph all of our jewellery with the utmost care.

You can rely on our years of experience in the trade and our expertise as a professional art historians for reviews of the antique jewellery. As a member of various trade organisations and the British Society of Jewellery Historians, we remain committed to the highest possible degree of accuracy. In our descriptions, we always also indicate any signs of age and defects and never hide them in our photos – this saves you from any unpleasant surprises when your package arrives.

Should you for some reason not be satisfied, please don’t hesitate to contact us so that we can find a solution together. In any case, you can return any article within one month and we will refund the full purchase price.

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Far Eastern Splendour

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