Kathleen Lynagh Custom Jewelry Designs

View Original

Ingrid Bergman's Pendant

Jewelry from the Film Classic “Gaslight”

1944 Classic Film Gaslight movie Poster

Ingrid Bergman Pendant, Kathleen Lynagh Designs

Recreating a Victorian Pendant for Larry McQueen

Starting a project where you are asked to recreate something unique, from the past and which is now no longer in existence is totally exciting. There are so many challenges to overcome from finding the correct historical details to casting the final project. Follow along to learn how it was made.


Research & Design Development

The challenge was to remake the pendant worn by Ingrid Bergman in the movie Gaslight. I was given a handful of images from the movie to begin my research.  Many details in the pendant were impossible to see, even with a magnifier.

Image from The Collection of Motion Picture Costume Design

I was able to recognize several Victorian design elements. I had learned from my client that this pendant may have been a family own piece that was added to the costume on the set. I made the assumption that it could have been made from a production Victorian era jewelry designer.

Searching thru jewelry images and catalogues from the Victorian time period I was able to locate details that we could use for our project. I believed this to be a popular type of pendant. I knew I needed to be able to draw the details in order to make it. So I focused my energies on finding actual Victorian pendants and studying them one by one until I found the details we believed our pendant shared.


Researching Period Jewelry

Victorian pendant - two tone metal color details. Yellow gold with rose gold accents.

Victorian gold filled pendant. A beautiful sample of Victorian period use of color and texture.

Victorian pendant compliments of Google search.

View showing opened pendant.

We could not believe our luck in finding this pendant online!

Our next steps were to draw the elements and start fabrication. We understood that orginal was most likely a locket - but for this replica project we decided not to make a locket. To continue this story and learn how it’s made, click the button below.

Updated: May 2024