This refined Victorian-era oval locket, crafted in warm yellow gold metal, exemplifies the era’s devotion to intimacy, memory, and personal symbolism. The front is adorned with a striking cobalt blue enamel monogram, rendered in an interlaced Gothic script—an ornamental style favored in the mid-to-late 19th century for its association with lineage, identity, and permanence.
The enamel work is finely executed, with crisp edges and rich saturation, indicating skilled craftsmanship and careful firing. The monogram’s complexity suggests a bespoke commission, likely created to commemorate a loved one or mark a significant familial bond.
Upon opening, the locket reveals its most poignant element: an original black-and-white photographic portrait, preserved beneath its protective bezel. The sitter—captured in quiet concentration—embodies the Victorian reverence for remembrance and the emerging art of personal photography. The opposing interior compartment retains its original lining, underscoring the locket’s authenticity and remarkable state of preservation.
Lockets of this caliber were worn close to the heart, functioning as deeply private objects rather than overt displays of wealth. This example survives not only as jewelry, but as a tangible fragment of personal history—an heirloom created to safeguard memory across generations. Curated by Ma Couronne, this piece stands as a testament to Victorian sentiment, craftsmanship, and the enduring human impulse to hold those we love near, even across time.
Purchased at Auction Exeter, United Kingdom.
Image 1 of 6
Image 2 of 6
Image 3 of 6
Image 4 of 6
Image 5 of 6
Image 6 of 6
