Miniature Portrait Pendant
Antique 1870s Unknown Victorian Pendant Necklaces
9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 19th Century European Georgian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold
Antique 1890s Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Silver
Antique 1890s Unknown Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Platinum, Enamel
Antique 1870s Etruscan Revival Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold
Antique 19th Century Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Silver
Antique Early 19th Century French Pendant Necklaces
Marcasite, Silver
Antique Early 19th Century Unknown Georgian Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 10k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique 1870s Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century French Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Marcasite, Silver
Antique Early 19th Century Unknown Georgian Pendant Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Late 20th Century Unknown Victorian Pendant Necklaces
White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Early 20th Century Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Onyx, Gold, 18k Gold
Antique Early 19th Century Unknown Georgian Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1800s American Post-War Pendant Necklaces
Gold
20th Century Unknown Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Antique 1830s French Georgian Pendant Necklaces
Silver
Antique 19th Century Unknown Romantic Pendant Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Antique Late 19th Century European Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Platinum, Enamel
Antique Early 19th Century British Georgian Pendant Necklaces
9k Gold
20th Century Italian Baroque Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century European Brooches
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique 19th Century European Arts and Crafts Brooches
Pearl, Silver
Recent Sales
Antique 1830s French Models and Miniatures
Gold
Antique 1860s Victorian Pendant Necklaces
14k Gold
Antique 16th Century British Pendant Necklaces
14k Gold
Antique Late 17th Century British Pendant Necklaces
Pinchbeck
Mid-20th Century Italian Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Brooches
Natural Pearl, 14k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Victorian Drop Earrings
14k Gold
Antique 1890s Unknown Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Brooches
Pearl, Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Unknown Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Models and Miniatures
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century British Late Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Yellow Gold
Antique 1860s Models and Miniatures
Garnet, Gold, Silver
Early 20th Century Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Gold, Enamel
Antique Early 19th Century British Early Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Yellow Gold
Antique 1850s Early Victorian Pendant Necklaces
14k Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1860s British Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold, Silver, Enamel
Antique Mid-19th Century Unknown Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
Antique Late 18th Century French Georgian Pendant Necklaces
Crystal, Base Metal, Enamel
Antique Mid-19th Century French Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Cultured Pearl, Gold, Enamel
Antique Late 18th Century British Pendant Necklaces
Antique 19th Century Unknown Romantic Pendant Necklaces
Coral, Gilt Metal
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique 1880s Victorian Brooches
Rose Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century French Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century French Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Emerald, Garnet, Enamel
Antique 18th Century British Georgian Pendant Necklaces
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, 15k Gold, Silver
Antique 19th Century French Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Enamel
English Necklace Enhancers
Antique Early 19th Century French Georgian Drop Necklaces
Natural Pearl, 18k Gold
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Empire Collectible Jewelry
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century British Early Victorian Pendant Necklaces
9k Gold, Yellow Gold
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Antique 1880s British Renaissance Revival Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Pearl, Yellow Gold
2010s Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
Antique 1820s Unknown Georgian More Rings
Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Enamel
Antique Late 18th Century British Georgian Signet Rings
Carnelian, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
Antique Late 18th Century French Georgian Engagement Rings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque More Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
Early 20th Century Unknown Classical Greek Signet Rings
Carnelian, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Cocktail Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
Antique 1880s Link Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond
Mid-20th Century European Medieval Signet Rings
Carnelian, 18k Gold
2010s American Cocktail Rings
Moonstone, 14k Gold
Vintage 1970s British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Gold
Antique Late 18th Century British Georgian Cluster Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold
Antique Early 19th Century European Baroque Revival Solitaire Rings
Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Miniature Portrait Pendant For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Miniature Portrait Pendant?
Finding the Right Pendant-necklaces for You
Whether you’re layering multiple jewelry pieces or opting for a single strand, vintage pendant necklaces are versatile accessories that can elevate your casual wear as easily as they can add a creative flourish to your formal attire.
The earliest jewelry was less about accessorizing than it was about wearers arming themselves with amulets. In Ancient Egypt, some amulets featured a loop so that they could be strung around one’s neck. While rubies have long been one of the few gemstones that can give diamonds a run for their money, members of some ancient civilizations valued the stones from the get-go, donning ruby pendants as well as other stones with the belief that these adornments would bring protection, healing powers or strength. Today, we still wear our charm bracelets and charm pendants around our necks for good luck.
Later, pendant necklaces, like most fine jewelry, were worn strictly by royalty or the upper class and conferred wealth and prestige. This changed over time, thankfully, as wearing jewelry became more widespread, a democratized means of personal expression.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, pendant necklaces evolved from their status as spiritual amulets, but the jewels still carried deep personal significance. Victorian pendants, in particular, were part of the “mourning jewelry” tradition. Wearers would embed their pendants with locks of hair from a deceased loved one as a way of grieving in the wake of a loss. In the case of cameo jewelry, some pendants were even decorated with miniature hand-carved portraits in a detailed raised relief. Today, portraiture is still a characteristic of many of the hand-carved pendant necklaces offered by Italian jewelry house Scala Gioielli.
Luxury fine jewelry brands such as Cartier, BVLGARI and David Yurman offer their own unique interpretations of the cherished accessory, embellishing platinum or gold pendant necklaces with diamonds, sapphires and other stones.
On 1stDibs, find an extraordinary range of vintage pendant necklaces and other necklaces today.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Miniature portraits are made with a mix of powdered glass, metal oxides and oil which makes a paste. This paste is painted color by color onto a base. Each color layer is fired in a kiln, one at a time. You’ll find a variety of miniature portraits from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Miniature portraits were first painted on a variety of mediums, some of the more popular being vellum, and card or cardboard. Paintings would typically be done in watercolor. Later painting in enamel on metal became a classic medium for painting miniature portraits. On 1stDibs, find an array of authentic miniature portraits.
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