Dating Vintage Lockets

DATING VINTAGE LOCKETS
1800s to mid- 1900s

VICTORIAN LOCKETS
1837-1900

A larger size and wide
collars are typical of lockets from the Victorian era. The best of the
Victorian lockets have matching collars and lockets with photo fittings inside,
wide decorated collars with the "Y piece in place, and perhaps
hallmarks. With the "Y", they can be worn at a shorter or longer length,
a flexibility that many collectors enjoy. These were all made in around
the 1860-80s, and the motifs and styles were amazingly varied.

VICTORIAN carte de visite of a lady wearing a brooch and locket on chain,
2-1/2" by 4". In pen on the back is marked "taken Nov. 1878". "W.P. Glaisby,
Suppiergate, York". View
View #Vkph28

VICTORIAN carte de visite of a lady wearing a locket on a black
ribbon, a ring and a brooch, 2-1/2" by 4". "Robinson & Thompson, 57
Church Street, Liverpool, 32 Hamilton Square, Birkenhead".
View #Vkph21

VICTORIAN carte de visite of a lady wearing a silver locket on a thick
chain. "J.W.Thomas, Colwyn Bay, N. Wales", 2-1/2" by 4".
View
View #Vkph14

VICTORIAN vulcanite fuchsia
oval 1-7/8" locket on 28" chain.
View
View #V27201

VICTORIAN vulcanite
locket with fuchsia flowers, 4 photo compartments, 2-1/8". See
page 26 in Helen Muller’s "Jet Jewellery and Ornaments".
View #V25284

VICTORIAN vulcanite 2" locket on 4-1/2" of chain.
View
View #V25357

VICTORIAN banded agate
locket set in yellow gold tone, 1-5/8" by 1-1/3" and 5/8" thick with a
1/2" bail. View
View #V36424

VICTORIAN gilt AEI locket with
fittings for one photo, 1-5/8" by 1-1/2" on a 20th century later-added 24" gold
tone chain, which is included free of charge. "AEI" stands for Amity, Eternity
and Infinity, or everlasting love or friendship.
View
View
View #V37073

VICTORIAN 15 karat yellow
gold and garnet cabochon pendant with photo opening on the back, 1-1/3"
by 1-1/8". This is an extra lovely garnet with wonderful color and the
detailed edging around the locket is gorgeous.
View #V36330

VICTORIAN carte de visite of a lady wearing silver heart brooch with beaded
edge, 2-1/2" by 4". Marked on front, "W.T.&F. Gowhaus, Lendal, York".
View #Vkph6

VICTORIAN sterling bird locket and
silver
collar, chain 17" by 1/2", locket 1-7/8" by 1-1/3". Only the locket is
hallmarked Birmingham 1882 with the maker mark illegible. Beautifully etched
design and detailed edge.
ViewView
View
View #V33644

VICTORIAN carte de visite of a lady wearing a bull’s eye brooch and
locket on a chain. Stamped on the back, "F. Hawkins, 4&5 Holgate Road, York",
2-1/2" by 4". View #Vkph7

VICTORIAN 1887 Roddin Catalogue page 134
"Fine rolled gold plate neck chains". All in the top row have capped edges.

VICTORIAN gilt buckle
locket with lovely etched scrolls and leaves, beaded detail, fittings inside
for two photos but only one glassine cover, locket 2" by 1-5/8", loop 5/8",
on a lovely collar with a fan on each link,
circa 1880s, 19" by 1/2". A similar collar can be seen in the Roddin
Catalogue 1887-89. #V36643

VICTORIAN 1887 Roddin Catalogue page 133
"Rolled gold plate neck chains, full length" showing both Roman polished
gold and roller and engraved links with capped edge..

From the Ben Allen Catalogue, 1899 FOB
LOCKETS
"FINE solid gold lockets… we can furnish any initials."

GOLD TONE square fob locket with rhinestone engraved "ARN",
circa 1900.
View
View #Y22832

From the Ben Allen Catalogue, 1899
SOLID gold slide lockets.

EDWARDIAN LOCKETS
1900-1920

Art Nouveau is a favorite of this era, with it’s swirling
designs and lovely lady motifs. Lockets are a bit smaller now and are
worn on a chain rather than a wide collar. Simple heart and oval shapes
are also popular, with the elongated oval shape being very collectible
now.

ART NOUVEAU gold
tone locket with lady face profile so beautifully typical of the era,
with fittings inside for two photographs, 1". It is engraved in flowing
script "EWH" on the back. Her smile is lovely.
ViewView #V62869

LOCKET "C Co." 2-1/3"
Art Nouveau gold tone locket with purple rhinestone, mounted on a 23" chain,
circa 1915.
View
View
View #Q24984

LION
and castle locket and drape embossed locket with clear rhinestone accent,
engraved initials "JA" on the back, faded vintage photos inside with covers,
1". View
View #V35638

GOLD TONE engraved
scrolls and flowers long oval locket, maker’s mark "JJS" inside
for J. J. Sommer Co., circa 1930. They
is light wear on the edge, which does not detract. The locket is 1" by
2-1/2" and the chain is 29". There are fittings for two photographs inside,
and there are very shallow dimples on the back.
View
View
View
View #Y3681

DECO LOCKETS
1920-30

Streamlined designs, geometric forms and simple motifs
characterize this era.

DECO silver locket with chain and the hinge at the top and marked "HB&S"
for the maker and "silver" on the back. HB&S may be for the maker Birmingham
England jewelry maker "Herbert Bushell & Son Ltd, who worked in the first
half of the 20th century. Both the shape and the lines take you right back
to the 1930’s. The locket has a fitting inside for a photo and is 1-1/2" by
1-3/16" and the chain is a later added 16-1/2" sterling chain.

View

View #N37667

DECO oval silver locket with chain and the hinge at the top and marked "HB&S"
for the maker and "silver" on the back. HB&S may be for the maker Birmingham
England jewelry maker "Herbert Bushell & Son Ltd, who worked in the first
half of the 20th century. Both the shape and the lines take you right back
to the 1930’s. The locket has room inside for a photo but no ring to hold it
in place. It is 1-1/4" by 3/4" and the chain is a later added 16-1/2"
sterling chain.

View

View #N37668

DECO silver locket with chain and the hinge at the top and marked "HB&S"
for the maker and "silver" on the back. HB&S may be for the maker Birmingham
England jewelry maker "Herbert Bushell & Son Ltd, who worked in the first
half of the 20th century. Both the shape and the lines take you right back
to the 1930’s. The locket has a fitting inside for a photo and is 1-1/4" by
1" and the chain is a later added 15" sterling chain.

View

View #N37669

DECO silver locket with chain and the hinge at the top and marked "HB&S"
for the maker and "silver" on the back. HB&S may be for the maker Birmingham
England jewelry maker "Herbert Bushell & Son Ltd, who worked in the first
half of the 20th century. Both the shape and the lines take you right back
to the 1930’s. The locket has a fitting inside for a photo and is 1-1/8" by
1" and a 24" chain marked "silver" on the clasp.

View

View #N37670

DECO sterling rectangular locket hallmarked for London, England, and the
date letter for 1925, 1" by 3/4". It folds out and has fittings to hold a photo
inside. The chain is a newer sterling 20" chain. View

View #V38307

1940-50s LOCKETS

The 50’s had a wide variety of designs in lockets as well
as in the metals and colors that were used. My personal favorites of
this time period are the Hobe lockets with wonderful rhinestones
and semi-precious gems set in hand made wire work.

HOBE Austro-Hungarian style locket
with blue, red and white enamel and blue cabochons 20" chain and 3/4" by
1-1/8" locket with fittings inside for photos but no plastic covers.
View
View #O35475

HOBE style but
unsigned sterling locket with gold wash, pink, blue and clear
unfoiled rhinestones and dangles,
locket front with lovely applied flower motif, 2-1/4". I cannot
decide whether or not I think Hobe did this piece, but it charming
and unusual nonetheless. The locket opens from the front so you
don’t have to take the brooch off to see a picture.
View
View #O36421

LOCKET
Victorian round gold tone locket with rhinestone starburst center and photo
and dried flowers inside, 1", finish as is, but the sentiment is wonderful!
View
View
#Y26000

1939 Benjamin Allen Catalogue page 114.
"Solid gold lockets and chains" some with diamonds.

VICTORIAN revival gold tone
1-1/2" locket on 24" chain.
View
View
View #V50779

1939 Benjamin Allen Catalogue page 115>
"The Mayflower Locket", as startling as the landing by the Pilgrims. Lift
the novel disappearing front to open, may be worn open to display the
picture".