Vintage Victorian Solid Sterling Silver Book Chain Large Engraved Locket Pendant 18" length 32.5 grams

Stunning Victorian, large, engraved locket pendant, with a beautiful book chain in solid sterling silver, beautiful engraved details.

Dimensions of chain:
Length 18"
Spring bolt ring catch
Weight 32.5 grams
Locket 65mm x 40mm (1.5" x 2.5")

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During the 18th and the 19th centuries, love heart necklaces became more popular than ever. Love was symbolized by a heart-shaped locket and inside a portrait or a lock of hair was carried. Classic novels portray this jewelry piece as a symbol of love, such as Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility.

In the 19th century, Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre invented the daguerreotype – the predecessor of paper photography. Each daguerreotype was a unique image on a silvered copper plate, that was inserted in a locket. But when paper photography was born, this process became much less expensive, and lockets with pictures inside became more popular and affordable.

In England, Queen Victoria (1876-1901) made lockets extremely popular. She wore lockets all the time, she honored her family with the portraits she wore inside them, sometimes in necklaces, sometimes in bracelets. Even when Prince Albert died, she wore a special locket piece dedicated to him. This piece of jewelry, containing a painting of the deceased, also known as mourning jewelry, became very popular at this point in history.

So much so that famous artists hand painted portraits that were featured inside this piece. The monogrammed locket also emerged with the letters engraved on the surface. Needless to say, these pieces were only accessible to the wealthy: men, women, children - whoever wore one was wealthy.