Taille d'épargne, a French term meaning "sparing cut," is often mentioned as black enamel tracery. This technique is a subset of champlevé decoration, where lines are engraved into a metal base with constant depth, then filled with an opaque enamel, similar to the process of basse taille enameling. The technique reached its pinnacle in England around the mid-1850s, with mass production spearheaded by Birmingham firms, later mirrored in the United States during the 1860s.

This exceptionally rare American 14ct padlock bracelet with black taille d’epargne enamel detailed stations is truly stunning. The padlock is particularly fascinating and an excellent example of the brilliance of domestic v.s. imported jewelry. This piece is a replica, or an, an American Knock-Off of a well loved English padlock bracelet concept. The warm 14ct pink gold enhanced when segmented into five sections with the addition of 5 enameled spacers.

Materials and Features:

14ct Gold, Enamel

Age/Origin:

Circa 1860, American

Measurements:

10.3G

26mm, Heart - 1.7mm

Condition:

In beautiful antique condition with minor age related wear.

Please view and inspect any photos closely. We endeavor to fully disclose all condition information clearly and concisely, however, please note that what qualifies as excellent condition for historical jewelry differs from modern and contemporary pieces; please take the age of the piece into account when examining the piece. Minor age wear is typical and to be expected for antique and vintage jewelry. Unless otherwise stated, gemstones have not been officially graded for color, clarity, or treatment by GIA; any information provided is our own educated, professional assessment.