This museum quality pendant, possibly a mourning piece for the legendary Jean-Jacques Rousseau, was impeccably crafted in 18k tri-gold and features 5 slides. Carvings of a floral design were crafted on a 3D-shaped lantern. The pendant is articulated with a hidden circle fob at the bottom that spins to rotate the lantern. The slides feature the following:
Slide 1: “Espoir.” which is French for “hope”. Also features a hand-painted portrait of a man in a French patriotic coat. 
Slide 2: A hand-painted pansy flower and what appears to be a thistle. 
Slide 3: “Eavain Diogenes ralumerait Sa Lanterne”, which roughly translates to  “In vain, Diogenes would relight his lantern”. Eavain appears to be old French for “in vain”. 
Slide 4: “Pleures Francis te grand homme n’est plus”, which roughly translates to “Cry France, the great man is no more”. 
Slide 5: A hand-painted obelisk and weeping willow. 
As we have been unable to find any other such similar antiquities under any references or museum databases, we are unsure if this is a one-off piece or one of the last remaining few of its kind. While the French oval owl punch was first introduced in 1893, we suspect this was later added onto the pendant as an import mark into France, which was sometimes used when importing jewelry to verify taxes were paid on it along with certifying its gold finesse on items without any hallmark or maker’s mark. Oval owl hallmarks are used for any foreign gold object or one without a legible French maker’s mark brought to the assay office by jewelry dealers.
While difficult to date, we estimate the pendant was likely commissioned circa 1770s and that a source of inspiration of creating this impeccable design came from Diogenes the Cynic (c. 413/403–c. 324/321 BC). He was a Greek philosopher of whom became a legendary figure that rejected conventional values and challenged societal norms, such as living in a jar or wandering public spaces with a lantern during daylight. 
Thanks to a French teacher’s help, telling clues indicate that the portrait of the gentleman in one of the slides is most likely philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. This further connects the piece to Rousseau who was once known as the “new Diogenes”, as his beliefs and worldview were nearly identical to Diogenes, for they both longed for a more simple and naturalistic lifestyle. Because of the the symbolic touches of mourning with the weeping willow and forget-me-not, along with mentioning Diogenes relighting his lantern and that France is crying because he is “no more”…this all further suggests that this was likely a mourning pendant for the incredible Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
Rousseau’s legacy included influencing the progress of the Age of Enlightenment along with aspects of the French Revolution in the 1700s. 
Diogenes’ most intriguing anecdote was his encounter with Alexander the Great, and there are numerous accounts of the story on their meet-up. Legend says that Alexander wanted to fulfill a wish of Diogenes when he visited him, to which he responded with, “Stand out of my light”. According to Valerius Maximus, Alexander the Great apparently wanted to be like Diogenes. 
As this pendant features clues of mourning (weeping willow, pansy flower), along with “French tears” of losing a “great man”, and a man representing “hope”, it is also possible that this was commissioned by an Orléanist; or possibly by an individual who viewed France in great despair and desired a Diogenes, lantern-themed pendant to express (and/or support) Revolutionary/reforming norms and changes—similarly as did Diogenes during his time. This antique heirloom filled with history is a once-in-a-lifetime piece that is available to own and add to your museum quality collection, as this could possibly be the only piece ever available on the market 
Materials: 18k tri-gold (rose, yellow, and green gold) and compartment with slides. 
Hallmarks: French owl punch. 
Total weight: Approx. 5.26g