Mystery Necklace

AnnB

AnnB

Editor in Chief who is Hot off the Press!
A couple of months ago, I added a photo of my maternal great grandmother to my media. Sarah Alice Honey married Henry Haynes in 1883. She was born in 1860 and died of influenza in 1893, so I'm guessing the photo was taken about 1880? It is, unfortunately, a photo of a photo - I have no idea where the original is, if it still exists, my cousin found the copy whilst having a clear-out.

Anyway, my question is - what is she wearing around her neck? I'm probably asking the impossible as the picture is so poor, but someone might know if the arrow has any significance. The actual necklace looks like some sort of medal and I wondered if it had anything to do with the arrow.......
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To begin with, I thought it might have been a gentleman's pocket watch crafted into some sort of necklace (as I've been doing the watchmaking side of our family, with timepieces passed down from father to son). Then I wondered if Sarah might have been a lady mayoress (as we have one of those, too!).

Is it an arrow? - or is it a fastener on her collar? I am undecided.

The chain is quite bulky, so I would imagine that the whole piece had some weight in it. The actual medallion, if that is what it is, has a crimped edge, like a biscuit.
 
Bay Horse said:
Might it have been some kind of mourning brooch?
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Thanks for trying Jenny - and an interesting thought. I've just had a look to see if there would have been anyone in her immediate family who died around that sort of time and who she could have had a mourning brooch for.....but, the only person who could fit the bill would have been her father who died in 1891, but that would make her 31 and I don't think she looks more than about 20.

The only occupation I have for Sarah is when she was a housemaid at The Priory, Roehampton in 1881, so that doesn't help with trying to work out what it was.

I've found several similar arrow brooches pictured on the interwebby, but I just wondered if it had some hidden significance. Knowing my luck, she picked it up at a jumble sale....:rolleyes:
 
Or, it may not have been hers? It may have been supplied by the photographer.

Certainly, looking around the web at mourning jewellery and Victorian jewellery c. 1880s in general, they did favour 'clunky' chains and big, bold pendants.

An antiques expert would probably have a better idea.
 
I wonder if it's a prize in the form of a medallion. I can't see it as a piece of personal jewellery as she'd wear it more neatly. I've found this and it looks similar:

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https://auctions.lyonandturnbull.com/auction-lot-detail/A-VICTORIAN-MEDALLION-19TH-CENTURY-6cm-diameter%2C-1.3oz/473+++++++90+/+++96411
 
I never thought of it being a prize for one minute Flook - but you may just have nailed it :) I'll have a rootle in the papers and see if I can find her winning anything.

I love the inscription on the medallion you found - 'The Perth Ornithological Society 1884 - Special prize for best clean bird' :D
 
Sandiep said:
did she by any chance do Archery it could be a prize for that with an arrow on it
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I can’t say yes or no - but I think it unlikely as I would imagine that was something done by the more ‘gentrified’ folk, and there was no way Sarah could be classed as ‘gentrified’, bless her :rolleyes: But thanks for the suggestion Sandie :)
 
Flook said:
I can't see it as a piece of personal jewellery as she'd wear it more neatly.
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Yes, exactly. It's rather odd that she has arranged her hair, clothing etc very tidily for the picture and yet the necklace is off centre. o_O

She is a bit old... sorry, Sarah... for it to be any kind of academic award.
 
That medallion is interesting, Flook, and I note the Scottish connection. Was Sarah Scottish, by any chance?

The reason for asking is that on our photo I thought the piece hanging down and connecting the necklace to the medallion had something on it that looked a bit thistle-shaped.
 
arthurk said:
That medallion is interesting, Flook, and I note the Scottish connection. Was Sarah Scottish, by any chance?

The reason for asking is that on our photo I thought the piece hanging down and connecting the necklace to the medallion had something on it that looked a bit thistle-shaped.
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No, Sarah had no connection with anywhere north of Berkshire, she was born in Lambeth, her father’s family were from Berkshire and her mother’s side were Devonian.
 
Boy, you got me on this one!! I have made jewellery for 10 years and not really a clue.......other than the design is slightly familiar. One thought.....could that be material in between silver bars above the medallion? That part is the familiar area to me. Could be a coloured ribbon. Other than that, it makes me wonder why it would be sitting off-kilter and not matching up as in "one side the same as the other". Odd.

Given the time frame, wouldn't she have to sit still as a church mouse for at least 5 or maybe 10 minutes? Not a photographer, so don't know that. I do believe you have stumped the Forum, lol.
 
OK, found three that are the same sort of odd chain. Not sure how to put 2 of them on here but will try. They are spot on for the decade and sterling silver. Both Victorian and both sterling. Darker pic is called "book chain". Wish I could tell you more but you do see the odd necklace now with that sort of chain.

Victorian Silver Locket Collar.jpg Victorian Silver Book Chain.jpg
 
Is the arrow perhaps a collar pin & separate from the necklace? As the light hits the right side of the lecklet 'chain' it is hi-lighted & looks different to that on her left. Is it chrystal?
 
Most likely sterling silver, Em........it was not expensive at that time. Crystals (like Swarovski) would have been. But I think you could be right (RE 2 separate pieces) bc it is a designer's nightmare in that it doesn't hang right and the two sides do not match.....in that photo anyway. Thoughts??
 
Ma-dotcom said:
Is the arrow perhaps a collar pin & separate from the necklace? As the light hits the right side of the lecklet 'chain' it is hi-lighted & looks different to that on her left. Is it chrystal?
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Thanks Wendy, I’m pretty sure the arrow and the necklace are two separate pieces. I just wish I had the original photo - I’ve set my cousin the task of going through any photos she has very carefully, hoping it might be lurking somewhere :reading:
 
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