Sterling Silver Cypher Pendant

This sterling silver pendant, circa the turn of the century, contains a pattern of hidden letters and scrolling foliate. The pendant was handmade, and it is evident that a lot of effort went into creating this charming piece. It is polished and refined, but also rustic and even crude, with subtly visible saw marks from the 19th century jewelry maker who cut the pattern by hand. Within the Art Nouveau design is a cypher of letters, perhaps an A and S, beautifully intertwined. 

The back of the pendant has a bail (approximately 2.5 x 4 mm) so that the pendant can be worn on a chain. The pendant weighs 7.1 grams and is 1.2 mm thick, making it a good, heavy gauge of silver. It acid tests as sterling silver.