Antique Victorian moulded goldstone heart shaped Stanhope pendant (with picture of Blackpool) with gold plated 925 sterling silver chain

Antique Victorian goldstone heart-shaped pendant with a Stanhope showing a picture of Blackpool, paired here with a more recent 925 sterling silver gold plated popcorn chain. The chain has a length of about 22 inches with a secure lobster clasp and is stamped for 925 Italy to show that under the gold plate, the chain is solid sterling silver. There is also a stamp that I believe says 'Danecraft'. The pendant and the chain were not produced at the same time but have been paired together recently as a nice match. Message me if you would prefer to purchase the pendant alone.

Invented in 1860 by René Dagron, the Stanhope is a short cylinder of optical glass, shaped into a dome at one end and usually held within a pendant or other piece of jewellery or trinket. When held to the eye (the correct way round), the optical glass magnifies the picture inside so it can be seen by the observer. I have found that the magnified image inside is impossible to photograph unfortunately! But I can assure you it is an image of Blackpool, so was no doubt sold as a holiday souvenir.

Goldstone is a type of glittering glass with flecks of copper made in a low-oxygen atmosphere. The finished product can take a smooth polish and be carved into beads, figurines, or other artifacts suitable for semiprecious stone, and in fact goldstone is often mistaken for or misrepresented as a natural material.