Blue Monday: Great-Grandmother's Necklace

For this week's Blue Monday, I thought I'd put up some shots of all my blue jewelry. But once I started looking through my jewelry box, you know what I found? I don't really have any blue jewelry!

Except for this necklace. It's made of open gold metal links alternating with solid links which are painted a very pretty turquoise blue, with little raised patterns in them (I know all that's very hard to see from these photos). The ends are braided gold metal, topped by little filigree caps and small pearls. I'm not sure how "real" the gold is.
















This photo shows the detail a little closer up.
















I don't think I've ever worn this necklace. It belonged to my grandmother, and it was passed on to her by her mother (at least that's the story I got from my own mother). I don't know how old it is, but my grandmother was born in 1902. My cousin MLB is a much better family historian than I am – she probably knows much more of the necklace's story. I believe she has the matching earrings. I don't have kids of my own, so the necklace will eventually go to my cousin and her daughter.

We don't have many heirlooms in our family. Those pioneer Texas families didn't leave a lot to pass on to their children (and my great-grandmother had thirteen siblings). So I feel very lucky to have this piece. And whenever I look at it, I'm always amazed, and a little saddened, at how quickly families can lose track of each other.

Please visit Smiling Sally's blog for more Blue Monday offerings.