Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 10

Antique Victorian Mourning Locket with Woven Hair, 19th Century

About the Item

This exquisite antique Victorian mourning locket, crafted in 14 karat gold, is a beautifully preserved example of 19th-century sentimental jewelry. Designed to hold a keepsake of a loved one, it features an intricately braided lock of hair encased beneath a glass panel on one side, while the exterior is adorned with a finely engraved floral motif, reflecting the detailed craftsmanship characteristic of the Victorian era. The front of the locket showcases a delicate hand-engraved floral design, surrounded by a scalloped border with decorative guilloché-style etching, adding depth and texture to the piece. The locket opens to reveal a woven section of preserved hair, a common practice in Victorian mourning jewelry, symbolizing remembrance and devotion to a deceased loved one. The gold-plated casing has been carefully crafted, with a small, sturdy bail at the top, allowing it to be worn as a pendant on a chain or chatelaine. During the Victorian era (1837-1901), mourning jewelry was a significant part of grieving customs, inspired by Queen Victoria’s long mourning period after Prince Albert’s death. These sentimental pieces often included woven hair of the deceased, serving as a tangible connection to lost loved ones. The floral engraving on the front may symbolize eternal love, remembrance, and the beauty of life, which was a common theme in mourning jewelry. This piece dates to the mid-to-late 19th century, likely between 1850-1880, when hair jewelry and mourning lockets were at the height of popularity in England and Europe. The construction and delicate engraving techniques suggest it was made by a skilled Victorian-era jeweler, likely for someone of middle or upper-class status, as mourning jewelry was widely worn in society during this time.
  • Metal:
  • Weight:
    3.9 g
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 1.19 in (30 mm)Width: 0.79 in (20 mm)
  • Style:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Circa 1850-1880
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Rotterdam, NL
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1630225538412

More From This Seller

View All
Antique Victorian 14K Gold Locket Pendant with Woven Hair, Memorial Jewelry
Located in Rotterdam, NL
This elegant antique Victorian locket pendant, crafted in 14K gold, is a beautifully preserved piece of 19th-century jewelry. Designed to hold a cherished memento, the locket reflect...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Dutch Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

14k Gold

Antique Victorian Gold and Black Enamel 'In Memory Of' Mourning Locket
Located in Rotterdam, NL
A very charming antique Victorian rose and yellow gold mourning locket. This beautiful oval locket features an engraved front and back. The front is decorated with black enamel aroun...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 9k Gold, Base Metal, Enamel

Antique Victorian 14K Gold Locket Pendant with Seed Pearls and Coral
Located in Rotterdam, NL
This Victorian locket pendant is a refined example of sentimental 19th-century jewelry, beautifully crafted in 14 karat yellow gold and designed with both elegance and symbolism in m...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century European Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Coral, Pearl, 14k Gold

Antique 19th Century 14K Gold Garnet Oval Pendant
Located in Rotterdam, NL
An antique 19th century gold cannetille pendant set with an oval-shaped faceted garnet stone. The cannetille work is delicately made by hand. In the...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Dutch Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Garnet, Gold, 14k Gold

Antique 19th Century 14K Gold Filigree Cross Pendant
Located in Rotterdam, NL
An antique Dutch 19th century cross pendant created with fine wire and cannetille work. This lovely antique cross is beautifully decorated with a repoussé design throughout the cross...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Dutch Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

14k Gold

Antique 14K Gold & Garnet Cross Pendant, Bohemian 19th Century
Located in Rotterdam, NL
This stunning antique cross pendant, crafted in solid 14K gold, is a fine example of 19th-century European ecclesiastical jewelry featuring richly faceted Bohemian garnets in an ornate Baroque Revival or Rococo-inspired setting. Measuring 70 x 57 mm and weighing 11.9 grams, the pendant is substantial in size with an intricate gold framework adorned with elaborate scrollwork and foliate motifs, giving it an opulent and decorative appearance. At the center and along the arms of the cross, deep red, rose-cut garnets are carefully set in bezel and prong settings, framed by delicate gold bead accents. The openwork gold detailing creates a sense of lightness and dimension, while the back features a flat, pierced gold plate, indicative of traditional 19th-century European craftsmanship. The symmetry and elaborate detailing reflect influences from the Austro-Hungarian Empire or Bohemian jewelry traditions, where Bohemian garnets were highly prized and commonly used in religious and aristocratic adornments. This cross pendant likely dates to the mid-to-late 19th century, during the height of the Bohemian garnet jewelry movement. The Austro-Hungarian Empire and Bohemian workshops were renowned for producing luxurious gold and garnet jewelry, often inspired by Baroque and Rococo designs. The use of high-quality, deep red garnets sourced from Bohemia was a hallmark of Central European jewelry in the 19th century. The ornate goldwork, floral scrolls, and symmetrical design align with Austro-Hungarian ecclesiastical and aristocratic jewelry, often worn by nobility and the clergy. This cross was likely worn as a devotional pendant and possibly used in ceremonial or ecclesiastical settings, reflecting the strong Christian heritage of the time. The antique 14K gold and garnet cross pendant is a rare and historically significant piece that embodies the rich heritage of 19th-century European craftsmanship. Its large size, exquisite gold detailing, and brilliant Bohemian garnets make it a highly collectible and wearable piece of history, perfect for those who appreciate antique religious jewelry...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century European Baroque Revival Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Garnet, 14k Gold

You May Also Like

Victorian Mourning Vulcanite Locket
Located in London, GB
Rare Beautiful Victorian Vulcanite Mourning Locket which has a missing top half of side hinge cover missing - and therefore comes apart as two sections But saying this the two piece...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Pendant Necklaces

Antique Victorian Bohemian Garnet Cross Mourning Locket
Located in New York, NY
This striking locket necklace is crafted in vermeil. The piece is adorned with numerous round-cut garnets, showcasing a deep red hue. The intricate design features a cluster arrangem...
Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Garnet, Vermeil

Antique 1870s Victorian Jet Mourning Locket Necklace
Located in London, GB
This striking Victorian mourning locket is carved from glossy Whitby Jet, a lightweight fossilised material prized for its intense black sheen. Oval in form, the piece is set with wa...
Category

Antique 19th Century English Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Brass

10K Gold Engine-Turned Mourning Locket with Braided Hair
Located in Venice, CA
This mourning jewelry locket is a real gem. It can be opened easily with a snapping button that releases the lid and reveals the inscription in cursive hand-writing from 1845. GWCL West is the name engraved on the top and behind original bevelled glass is a generous brown haired woven braid. The hair has been kept impeccably behind the thick glass. The edge of the medallion locket...
Category

Antique 1840s European Early Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

10k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Antique Gutta Percha Mourning Locket Lady Cameo
Located in Montreal, QC
Victorian antique gutta percha mourning locket with lady's head carving. Measures 2 inches x 1 1/2 inches, circa 1860-70. In good condition, the i...
Category

Antique 1860s Unknown Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Antique onyx locket with photo hide, late 19th century.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Old locket- sentimental medallion made of onyx A sentimental item, with a place for a photo of a loved one. Decorated with floral motif and seed pearls Origin: probably Germany, ...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century German Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Pearl, Gold Plate

Recently Viewed

View All