Art Nouveau Gold Filled Lion Locket With Paste Circa 1905 Monogrammed NES

The Art Nouveau movement asked jewelry to become something more than ornament — it asked it to carry meaning, symbol, and narrative. This gold filled locket from circa 1910 answers that call with quiet authority. At its center, a richly embossed lion commands the face: proud, detailed, unmistakably of its era. In the Art Nouveau canon, the lion carried dual symbolism — strength and solar power on one hand, the untameable natural world on the other. Here it is rendered with the confident hand of a craftsman working at the height of the movement's American expression.

Paste stones — glass gems cut and set with the same care as their precious counterparts — were a thoroughly respectable choice in Edwardian and Art Nouveau jewelry, favored not merely as economy but as artistry. Their brilliance in candlelight, gas lamp, and early electric light was considered superior to many natural stones of the period, and today they are sought by collectors precisely for that period-authentic sparkle.

The reverse bears the hand-engraved monogram NES — the initials of an original owner now lost to time, adding a layer of personal history that no new piece can manufacture. A minor surface dent, consistent with a century of faithful wear, is present and only deepens the authenticity. This piece has been carried, treasured, and survived.

Accompanied by a vintage 18-inch gold filled chain with a 2.2mm profile and spring ring clasp — ready to wear as found. 

Materials: Gold-Filled with Paste includes 18" Gold-Filled Chain
Dimensions: 27.6 x 5 mm
Weight: 10.1 grams
Period: Circa 1905