Antique Locket Pendant With Enamel And Oriental Pearls With Original

Lockets were one of the great passions of the late 19th century. In Great Britain in particular, they were worn in every conceivable shape and design, from the simple pendant with a single compartment on the back made of silver to the precious, large design made of gold with several interlocking covers that could be opened up to form an entire family album. The locket shown here is a beautifully executed representative of this type of jewelry from around 1870. On its front we see a star made of natural pearls set close together, whose warm lustre complements the warm shine of the gold. A second star made of arabesque blue inlaid enamel is an additional design element. Inside, two frames make it possible to store photographs or a lock of hair, for example. The original gold chain has been preserved with the pendant, which lies together with the locket in its original case. Chains of this type are also known in England as Brazilian Chains and were only introduced a few years earlier, which supports the dating of the work. The scale-like gold links of the chain are flexibly connected to each other, giving the impression of a snake animal. Around 1870, star motifs and velvety shimmering surfaces in yellow gold were very fashionable. The locket was therefore very much in line with the fashion of its time. The London jeweler Streeter's catalog from 1870 shows beautiful examples of the wealth of shapes of the time, see here. The locket has been preserved in its original case by the London goldsmith J.B. Allen. For dating, see Brigitte Marquardt: Schmuckellerie. Realismus und Historismus (1850-1895), Munich/Berlin 1998, p. 231ff, with corresponding lockets of the period and on the shape of the star David Bennet and Daniela Mascetti: Understanding Jewellery, Woodbridge 2010, p. 230.

Estimate:£8,252.04

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