An unusual Victorian locket dating to c.1880, crafted in sterling silver with applied 9ct gold highlights and an intricately engraved naturalistic scene. The front depicts a bird in flight above a heron or wading bird, surrounded by finely engraved bamboo, grasses and foliage, creating a distinctly Japanese-inspired composition characteristic of the Aesthetic Movement.
The silver surface combines geometric borders with detailed botanical engraving, while the applied gold birds provide a striking contrast against the silver. This Japanese influence became particularly fashionable in Britain during the later Victorian period, when asymmetrical compositions, birds, bamboo and other natural motifs increasingly appeared in jewellery and decorative arts.
The locket opens to reveal its original interior arrangement, retaining one clear acrylic panel and an insert for displaying a photograph or personal memento. Presented in very good antique condition with light age-related surface wear consistent with its age.
Era:
Victorian, c.1880
Hallmarks:
Unhallmarked, tests as sterling silver with 9ct gold highlights.
