14k Butterfly Amulet Pendant

Solid 14k gold, 3.5 gr necklace amulet pendant with butterfly motif. Vintage 1980s, but the design is 1970s, and the charm may have been made in the late 70s. Backstory: In the 1970's and 80s, there was a proliferation of rather unregulated 'experimental' schools throughout the US , where parents would send their unruly children. These schools were often cult-like and employed a number of questionable 'therapy' methods. Paris Hilton described her experience in such a school in the documentary, "This is Paris." This butterfly charm represents transformationand was given to graduates of the DeSisto school in Massachusetts in the 1980s. It was obtained from someone who attended this school. The person who the charm belonged to did not graduate from the school but ran away at the age of 19 after having been there for over three years. She managed to cross the border into Canada and could not be forced to return to the school since she was a legal adult. She discovered the charm 30 years later in her parents' home when their house was being sold. It turned out all the parents had to buy this charm the day they registered their children at the school. Her parents never gave it to their runaway daughter. So, the charm has kind of an odd and dark history, but is also a nice piece of jewelry and I told you the story in case you like to know the detailed history of your jewelry. Collar and chain not included. For display only. gold butterfly pendant amulet