RENE LALIQUE WW1 1918 WHITE METAL 80% PENDANT SIGNED

Although Rene Lalique is famous for his Art Deco Glass, he was first a Jeweller, and he made and signed our item just at the end of WW1. No damage ,just wear from handling over the past 90 years, although there would have been a tricolour ( red white and blue for France ) ribbon for suspension , and this is missing. It is 1.25 inches tall, weighs 5 grms of 800 ( 80%) white metal. Beautifully designed by and SIGNED R.LALIQUE.

I AM COMPLETELY CERTAIN THAT THIS IS 80% PRECIOUS WHITE METAL, at one time gilded all over, with precious yellow metal,now only traces remain in the crevices.Having been trading in silver for 39 years, I can see and know that it is white metal, and that the gilding is precious yellow metal. It is obvious! However I did get it tested by a  high street Jeweller, who said it is NOT BASE METAL , but neither does it come up to the full silver (92.5%) colour, and the only possible conclusion I can come to is that it is a lower than 92.5% grade of white metal.  France in 1918 always used 800 silver. THIS IS WHY I AM CERTAIN, AND I DID BUY IT IN A FINE ART AND ANTIQUES AUCTION BEFORE THE HALLMARKING ACT OF 1973, where it was then catalogued as SILVER.

On eBay France , you will sometimes see a similar R.Lalique signed pendant, but these were made in about a million copies for the people who cared for the orphans of soldiers lost in WW1, and they are not expensive. THEY ARE BRASS.  Only a hand full are left in the world from those made of white metal . Rumour has it that one or two gold ones exist.  Your item is EXTREMELY RARE! I also notice that your piece has a number on it 608 ( see picture ) and that is a low number when one considers the brass examples were mass produced.  I have seen a picture of a  white metal one which sold at Sotherby's for a great deal of money.Your looks wonderfully well made - just look at the detail, and LET YOUR PICTURES SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.  It cost me a lot of money to buy it even in the early 1970's.

Nevertheless, it is there to be sold, as with all my other items, starting at 0.99p, without reserve.    ( Your item needs to be SIGNED FOR, and the cost of this, domestic 75p, international £3.70, is already included in my Postal Prices.).