Antique French Mother of Pearl Locket
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A highly unusual and beautifully engineered French locket dating to the nineteenth century, crafted in 18K gold and set with two softly iridescent plaques of natural mother of pearl. This jewel exemplifies the inventive spirit of French jewellery design in the 1870s, combining decorative artistry with an clever internal mechanism. The locket opens to reveal two recessed compartments, each lined with mother of pearl, and a central glass panel that pivots on a tiny hinge. The panel can be swung to either side and locked neatly into place, allowing a photograph or miniature to be displayed against either interior surface. It is a remarkably sophisticated piece of craftsmanship.The top is framed by a sculptural border of intertwined branches and leaves, ornamented with minute drilled seed pearls and retaining traces of warm orange enamel that would once have highlighted the foliage. These small painted details are very typical of the decorative naturalism found in French jewellery of the late Second Empire and early Third Republic. The overall construction displays the finesse of a highly skilled workshop.The locket has a pleasing weight in the hand at 9.5 grams and measures approximately 3.5 by 2 centimetres with a depth of 1.2 centimetres. The pendant is stamped with the French ’tête d’aigle’ (eagle head) hallmark indicating it is 18K gold and was made in Paris. A rare and charming object for the collector who appreciates technical ingenuity as much as aesthetic refinement.
A highly unusual and beautifully engineered French locket dating to the nineteenth century, crafted in 18K gold and set with two softly iridescent plaques of natural mother of pearl. This jewel exemplifies the inventive spirit of French jewellery design in the 1870s, combining decorative artistry with an clever internal mechanism. The locket opens to reveal two recessed compartments, each lined with mother of pearl, and a central glass panel that pivots on a tiny hinge. The panel can be swung to either side and locked neatly into place, allowing a photograph or miniature to be displayed against either interior surface. It is a remarkably sophisticated piece of craftsmanship.
The top is framed by a sculptural border of intertwined branches and leaves, ornamented with minute drilled seed pearls and retaining traces of warm orange enamel that would once have highlighted the foliage. These small painted details are very typical of the decorative naturalism found in French jewellery of the late Second Empire and early Third Republic. The overall construction displays the finesse of a highly skilled workshop.
The locket has a pleasing weight in the hand at 9.5 grams and measures approximately 3.5 by 2 centimetres with a depth of 1.2 centimetres. The pendant is stamped with the French ’tête d’aigle’ (eagle head) hallmark indicating it is 18K gold and was made in Paris. A rare and charming object for the collector who appreciates technical ingenuity as much as aesthetic refinement.
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