Victorian Sterling French Paste Double-Sided Painted Portrait Locket Pendant

French paste is a Vintage jewelry term used to describe the practice of using faceted cut glass, cut in the shape of a real gemstone, instead of using real gems. This process, which was developed in the 1700's, created the look of a sparkling gemstone or diamond but cost much less than real stones. A wonderful painted locket pendant from the Victorian (ca1880) era! This double-sided piece is crafted in sterling silver, and forms a bezel frame that holds a glass-covered portrait on either side. On the front, a sparkling French paste border surrounds a hand-painted image of an older woman wearing lovely Victorian era attire. On the reverse side, is the portrait of a man dressed in formal attire with a classic bouffant hairstyle. The hand-painted images can be access by a hinged, covered locket space on the back, easily allowing you to replace with your own treasured keepsake or photograph, if desired. Additional shimmering stones decorate a feminine bow surmount which has delicate cut