A French 22 karat (22K) yellow gold charm pendant designed as an oval disc with a carved relief of the Madonna and Child, signed O. Roty. The reverse depicting a branch of lilies with the Latin motto 'VIRGO SANCTA PUERUM CUSTODI' (Holy Virgin protect this boy). Stamped with the eagle's head for 18 karat gold and French manufacture, along with an incomplete maker's mark. 

A similar example may be seen at the Musee Carnavalet, Histoire de Paris. 

Louis-Oscar Roty (1846-1911) was a sculptor and medallist, who studied with Dumont and Ponscarme. He went on to win the premier Grand Prix du Rome for medal engraving in 1875 and the Grand Prix at the 1889 Exposition Universelle in Paris, and his work was celebrated in a number of articles by George F. Kunz.

Dimensions: 2.3 x 1.6 x 0.13 cm (not including jump ring)

Weight: 4.31 grams

Date: 1896

(Chain not included)

Because of different gold testing practices, (traditional acid and stone test vs. eBay's Authenticity Guarantee electronic XRF digital gold testing machine), items stamped 14k may read or actually be between 13.5k-15k gold.  Until 1981, manufacturers of jewelry could use gold that was 13.5 karat or higher and round off, thus still stamping it 14k.  Much of the jewelry sold on eBay is older than 1981.

In the same way, French 18 karat jewellery stamped with the eagle’s head guarantee mark or the owl import mark for 18 karat gold may actually be between 17.35k-19k.

Where relevant, items have been tested for purity using the KEE Electronic Gold Tester, and have been listed according to the results gained from this analogue tool.