Victorian Mourning Locket with Diamond and Seed Pearls

This Victorian mourning photo locket dates to the mid-to-late nineteenth century, a period when jewelry functioned not merely as adornment but as a deeply personal record of love, loss, and memory. Crafted in gold plate, the locket is designed in a radiating form, its scalloped perimeter articulated with delicate applied terminals and engraved scrollwork, exemplifying the refined goldsmithing techniques of the era.

At the center, a mine-cut diamond is set within a rosette of natural seed pearls—materials long associated with mourning symbolism. Diamonds, valued for their endurance, were understood as emblems of constancy and eternal love, while seed pearls were commonly used to signify tears shed for the departed. Together, they form a visual language immediately recognizable to nineteenth-century wearers.

The reverse retains its original glazed compartment beneath magnifying glass, intended to house a relic such as woven hair or photographs—a private memorial preserved close to the body. The survival of the original glass is notable, as these elements were frequently lost or replaced over time. The original picture with information about the photographer is included under the pink fabric.

Mourning jewelry such as this occupied a unique place in Victorian society, operating as both public signal and private keepsake. This locket stands as a rare and intact example of that tradition: an object at once ornamental, symbolic, and profoundly human.

Purchased at auction Stamford, United Kingdom.