Grand Tour Itinerary and Italian Jewelry by: Yvonne Hammouda-Eyre
Good Morning/Afternoon
thank you for writing in. Your lovely pendant is not Russian or French but Italian. The number is the registration number assigned to the smith. AL is initial of Italian Provence in Italy. Item most likely of high quality gold. Your piece is post 1968 and depicts most famous Catholic religious motif - Madonna/Mary and Child/Jesus, expressively portrayed. Rome being the center of Catholicism, item probably was purchased as a religious memento of visit to Italy.
In the Victorian era, during the 19th century, the "Grand Tour" included Italy wasn't so much influenced by religious considerations. The standard tourist itineraries in the 19th century in Italy, included a visit to the museum to see relics from the buried sites, a visit to the Palace of Capodimonte, the drive along the seashore to Santa Lucia and then to the shops to buy coral and Archaeological Revival-style jewelry. This remained in fashion until the turn of the 19th century.
