What to do with an antique necklace?

March 21, 2025 11:51 AM

This broken tortoiseshell necklace is French from the 1700s, and not to current taste. But what to do with it?

Our family has a necklace that, if the note with the gift-giver is correct, was made of tortoiseshell in France, was called "about 200 years old" in ~1950, and is broken. It is definitely not the sort of thing that I or anyone else in the family is likely to wear. Antique tortoiseshell isn't very valuable. It seems a waste to pitch it, but other than sending the whole broken shebang to Goodwill (which seems like they'd throw it out), is there anything I can do it with it? I live in the Boston area, which has a lot of antiques and museums, and I can't imagine any of the house museums around here need more stuff. But maybe there's be an angle I'm not considering?

posted by ldthomps to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (17 answers total)

If you had a sentimental attachment to it, I'd say frame it. Jewelry you won't wear can be beautiful artwork in the right frame.

In your shoes I'd look for an antique jewelry consignment shop and sell it. The only one I know of is Lang Antiques in San Francisco, and they do appraising and consignment both. I'm sure there will be one in Boston.
posted by blnkfrnk at 12:12 PM on March 21 [7 favorites]

Bury it? In a robust glass jar with an explanatory note written on archival paper inside a wooden case. Fashions change and it may be highly desirable when it is found. The Ness of Brogdar, a neolithic settlement, was discovered in Orkney in 2003. After 20 years of digging and recording, the site was re-buried last Summer to preserve for future archaeologists who might be better equipped to understand it.
posted by BobTheScientist at 12:24 PM on March 21 [10 favorites]

Put it in your local “BuyNothing” list? I think that’s a pretty cool necklace, and someone might treasure it.
posted by Ollie at 12:28 PM on March 21 [1 favorite]

If you do Christmas ornaments, you could make the pendant into an ornament.

The rectangular beads could be turned into an interesting bracelet.
posted by amtho at 12:39 PM on March 21 [6 favorites]

Put it on freecycle! Someone who crafts or repairs jewelry will want it.

Alternatively, a necklace from 1750 would be hand carved tortoiseshell with a cameo and I have trouble believing that it would be so low value as to be not worth popping on eBay. I might even go so far as to drop in to an independent jeweler and ask if they would give it a squint to confirm that it's truly several hundred years old, then see about selling it.
posted by Frowner at 12:43 PM on March 21 [3 favorites]

You should perhaps check the museums, they might have an opinion, even if they don't want it.

Another option is to repair it. I have an old ivory necklace that no-one wants since selling and buying ivory is illegal, even when the work is antique. So I had the broken parts replaced by silver copies, and it can be worn in a context where the history is understood. It's a very beautiful piece, like yours is, and it seemed nonsensical to just throw it to garbage. The elefant died ages ago, and someone spent days or weeks making it.
posted by mumimor at 12:43 PM on March 21 [3 favorites]

Best answer: Consider sending the item to National Wildlife Repository This organization has a collection of items made from wildlife (like tortoise shell) that are now banned for import into the US. The items are used as examples to teach agents and consumers how to identify objects that should not be purchased to help preserve wildlife by decreasing demand for these products.
posted by effluvia at 12:48 PM on March 21 [17 favorites]

Unless you're extremely tight on space, I'd personally keep it in case someone in the next generation wants it. My family has a number of small items like that skipped generations of interest.

Failing that, you could totally barter for something of interest to you at a lot of flea markets using it if you don't want to try the consignment or eBay route.

Or it would probably be of interest to someone that does art projects. One of the physical media artists in my little collective uses stuff like that in her works.
posted by Candleman at 12:58 PM on March 21 [5 favorites]

If I had some 18th century tortoiseshell jewelry I'd get it appraised before tossing it, even if, as you say, antique tortoiseshell isn't very valuable. There are all sorts of ways it could be valuable to a collector or an art historian.
posted by Winnie the Proust at 1:57 PM on March 21 [7 favorites]

Effluvia, thanks for the info on the National Wildlife Repository. This prompted me to look up whether it was in fact banned, and it is (as it should be, now that I think about it).

My answer about making things from it depends a lot on whether that is "real" tortoiseshell or the more common plastic/imitation tortoiseshell. Since it's from the 1700's, it's probably not plastic, but it could be another imitation. Still - do what feels right, but it's worth knowing this information.
posted by amtho at 2:33 PM on March 21 [1 favorite]

I would have some expert take a look, rather than going by the note claiming its age.
Met museum example, 1870
posted by Ideefixe at 3:52 PM on March 21 [4 favorites]

My friend the independent antique dealer says,

I think the problem is that, as far as I'm aware, it is illegal to sell tortoiseshell. I believe there is no way to definitively date it + I believe it came from a protected species. While it is very attractive + used to have a strong market, I think the market has ostensibly gone away due to legal issues. (It is a beautiful piece.)

Meanwhile, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts has a Jewelry Collection. Maybe they'd want it?
posted by Winnie the Proust at 4:00 PM on March 21 [2 favorites]

Spur Jewelry renovates existing jewelry that is broken or unwearable into gorgeous custom pieces. They're happy to work with unconventional materials. This would probably be pricey, but if you or someone else in the family would wear a re-imagined piece, it might be worth considering.
posted by pollytropos at 4:16 PM on March 21 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I’d make an appointment at Rebekah Brooks jeweler in Harvard Square to see about getting it fixed at least. They sell and… renovate? vintage and antique jewelry.
posted by mskyle at 3:43 AM on March 22 [2 favorites]

I feel like there must be someone who actually would love to own and wear that piece. Out of respect for the family and the tortoise, I would try to find that person and give it to them.
posted by haptic_avenger at 7:15 AM on March 22 [1 favorite]

The style is more 1860’s-1870’s for what it’s worth. It would be lovely framed or reworked somehow if you like it.
posted by antiquated at 10:37 AM on March 22 [2 favorites]

This is amazing! I'd definitely frame it in a shadowbox and hang it on a wall. (Like, I'm not saying you necessarily should if you don't like the style of the piece; I'm saying that's what I'd do with it if it was mine.)

There is really no shortage of antique lovers, historical costume enthusiasts (there's a community of people who do recreation and attend events), goths (who just like old weird stuff), etc., who would enjoy this necklace. The Harvard Square jeweler is probably a good idea, although the legality of the material might put a wrinkle in things.
posted by verbminx at 11:50 AM on March 22 [1 favorite]