Victorian Era Mourning Locket Antique Pendant Necklace Pique Pose Jewelry
Imported from Germany, this lovely pendant represents a unique take on Pique Pose jewelry. Dating from the Biedermeier period of the mid 19th century, this locket features silver and mother of pearl inlaid into a black locket.
The locket itself contains a lock of blonde hair, and may be a mourning piece. The other locket compartment is empty. The locket itself measures about 1.75 including the bale. Check out my shop for more great antique jewelry! Pique is a technique in which gold or silver is inlaid in black material. The metals in this piece have not been tested but is likely gold. The technique for making pique, inlaying gold and silver into shell or ivory, was brought to England by the Huguenots when they were expelled from France in the late 17th Century. Pique jewelry blossomed in the late 1800s. Mourning jewelry has been around since at least the 16th century, but it is widely associated with the Victorian Era, when mass production made it affordable. The trend reached its high point after the death of Prince Albert in 1861, when Queen Victoria, as well as members of her court, wore black clothing and matching mourning jewelry for decades.Some of the most interesting examples of mourning jewelry included hairwork, which describes bracelets, necklaces, and rings made from woven human hair. To create a connection to a deceased loved one, their initials were often discreetly woven into the object. Terms and Conditions - Please read!
I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Suspected gemstones may be tested with Presidium Gem Tester II. This tester does not identify all possibilities but gives a good approximation of major gemstones. Please note that it cannot differentiate between natural and created stones. Suspected diamonds may be confirmed with Diamond Selector II which differentiates between natural diamonds and imitations. Seed pearls will not be tested and may be cultured or imitation. Stamped metals are not tested unless suspect. Unstamped metals may be tested using JSP acid testing solution. This test is subjective and determinations will be approximate.I always do my best to ensure the accuracy of my listings. Unless jewelry is marked (as much of my jewelry is from England and bears assay marks,) the age is merely an educated guess. Also, antique jewelry will often have minor or major!
Gift Wrapping: All jewelry orders come in presentable packaging by default. This may be a nice ring box or jewelry gift box. I do not include invoices with any of my packaging by default.