Featured Locket by Evans. Need help identifying.

Good morning,

I have this Art Deco style locket made my Evans. It appears to be gold plated. Does anyone know what these greek symbols mean or what the significance of them would be? Any information would be helpful. I appreciate it.

Ashley

 

Hi azizu! Welcome to Antiquers board

Upsilon Sigma Phi letters
https://www.antiquers.com/threads/locket-by-evans-need-help-identifying.30727/#post-406585

Perhaps linked to this fraternity, founded in 1918, but their logo isn't same...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upsilon_Sigma_Phi

 

The fraternity appears to be active still. This would presumably be 'sweetheart' jewellery, given by a member to his girlfriend.

 

And welcome, Ashley. Congratulations on getting a great picture posted on your first go. It very often gives new members difficulty.

The fraternity was founded in 1918 and the style of the locket, its shape & decoration, is art deco. Could we see it open & also have a pic of the back? My guess is that it is gold filled, but it would need to be tested to know for sure.

 

Great find. That one still has photos, parents of owner, perhaps. The way they are dressed adds to my impression that these lockets date to the early years of the fraternity. Seller on etsy says 'gold', without specifying further. Price set suggests they know it is not solid & photo of wear on back also not encouraging:

 

Welcome to Antiquers Azizu!

 

I wonder that's Ashley's own site? Azizu is her user name.

 

Welcome, Ashley.

The style of the locket is also early Art Deco.

 

Thank you all! Yes that’s me. The price reflects my uncertainty and also just not sure if I wanted to part with it! I appreciate all the knowledge in these forums. I spend a lot of my time browsing and learning here.

 

In the photo of the back, I think I see (on the right 'steps') a touch of verdigris, the blue-green product of copper oxidation that can develop on things made of brass or bronze. If my eyes aren't making it up, you have to consider brass. Sometimes the backs are made of cheap metal when the visible parts are made of gold. If you test, do both sides.

 

But never test directly on the locket, use a testing stone.

 

Think it's very unlikely locket was associated with an Asian fraternity. More likely a long-gone local, rather than national, fraternity. Might even have been a high school fraternity, of which there were many at one time.

Debora

 

I would keep it, if it were mine lol

 

I agree it does have a touch of blue-green to it.

 

I decided I couldn’t part with it... haha

 

here’s the photo of the inside since it was referenced earlier. thanks again everyone!

 

Just a general locket question to everyone. Do you prefer them with the original photographs, or without?

 

With. I like vintage/antique items that have some evidence of where they've been. And you can always take them out.