Antique 1933 Art Deco 10K Gold Dance Recital Presentation Pendant Ace Dance Studio Evelyn Wilkinson

June 17, 1933. The Great Depression is in full swing, but somewhere in America a young woman named Evelyn Wilkinson is dancing well enough that her studio gives her a gold pendant to commemorate it. The Ace Dance Studio had it engraved in gorgeous flowing script, presented it to her personally, and Evelyn presumably wore it with pride. Ninety-three years later, here it is.

This is a fully antique piece in the truest sense of the word, and it carries something most antique jewelry does not: a complete, dateable, human story. The pendant is a classic octagonal-corner rectangular form in 10K yellow gold with beveled edges and a simple split ring bail. The engraving covers the entire face in beautifully rendered mixed script and block lettering. It reads: "Presented to Evelyn Wilkinson By the Ace Dance Studio June 17, 33." The craftsmanship is precise and confident. Someone with skill cut those letters.

Dance was the great escape of the Depression era. Studios flourished because people needed beauty and movement and joy when the economy offered none of those things. The Lindy Hop, the Foxtrot, the Quickstep. A gold pendant from a dance studio in 1933 is both a piece of fine jewelry and a small artifact of cultural resilience. If you are a dance historian, a collector of Americana, a jewelry lover, or your name happens to be Evelyn, this one is for you.

Condition: Pre-owned with honest wear consistent with age. Some patina, light surface scratching, and dulling from decades of handling. The engraving reads clearly and completely. The bail is intact and functional.

Key Features:

• Material: 10K yellow gold
• Form: Rectangular with beveled octagonal corners, split ring bail
• Dimensions: 1.6 inches tall by 0.7 inches wide (including bail)
• Weight: 3.8 grams / 2.4 DWT
• Hallmarks: 10K
• Engraving: "Presented to Evelyn Wilkinson By the Ace Dance Studio June 17, 33"
• Era: Antique, dated 1933
• Style: Art Deco presentation pendant / award fob
• Condition: Pre-owned, patina and light surface wear, engraving fully intact