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 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 beautiful French paste heart charm from the Victorian (ca1880) era! Made of sterling silver, this beautiful piece has a feminine heart-shaped design encrusted with sparkling French paste stones. The foil-backed stones include a pear-shaped stone at the center, surrounded by round stones along the border. At the top of the heart is a simple jump ring, which makes it easy to hang from a chain, or attach it to a special charm bracelet. A delicate and romantic piece, it is perfect for everyday wear, and would make a wonderful gift for someone special!
Measurements: The charm hangs 7/8" long (including the bail at the top). The heart itself measures 5/8" tall, 1/2" wide, and 1/4" thick.
Condition: The overall condition of the charm is excellent. Besides normal surface wear, there is no apparent damage to the sterling setting, and all French paste stones are intact. The bail is securely attached. There is some natural color variation and a natural patina present on the silver setting, which is a normal characteristic of antique jewelry.
