Large Victorian Turquoise & Pearl Locket

A big, striking, Victorian-era locket, modeled in 18k yellow gold, whose oval face features a hand-pierced central panel, that appears to “fan out” from a single, natural seed pearl. This delicate, two-lobed design resembles a pair of ladies' fans, with baroque embellishments. It is surrounded by a polished field, and a series of concentric, bordering elements— an initial border of twisted rope, a secondary border of forty, calibre-cut, sugarloaf, turquoise cabochons, and a final border of twisted gold rope. The whole affair is tiered, and seriously fancy! Shapely, hand-pierced finals crown the locket to the north and south, while beads of granulation decorate the locket's sides. The locket’s backside is a crystal covered compartment— the gold ring lifts out, so that one can place a photograph or a lock of hair inside. This locket hangs from a beautiful, engraved, turquoise-set bail. It is marked with the French eagle’s head, for purity, and with a partial maker’s cartouche. We love the master-level work, here, and the grand scale! Also wonderful are the many precisely-cut turquoise cabochons, and their subtly variegated color!

This is exceptionally well made.

Materials

18k gold
Turquoise
Pearl
Crystal

Age

c. 1880 

Dimensions

Locket measures approx 61.5 mm x 18 mm (about 2 1/2" including bail); turquoise cabs, in border (40), measure approx 2.1 mm; pearl measures approx 3.25 mm; locket compartment measures approx 30 x 11.25 mm; bail measures approx 15.4 x 8.65 mm.