Antique Floral Locket
An antique floral locket is a sentimental hinged keepsake holding a portrait or curl of hair, prized for intricate botanical hand-engravings.
Antique Floral Locket
An antique floral locket is a hinged pendant designed to hold miniature photographs, portraits or hair mementos close to the heart. When you search for an antique floral locket, you encounter pieces that range from small round cases to large shields and puffy hearts.
The selections on this page span several eras, with Victorian and Edwardian examples appearing most frequently alongside pieces from the Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Georgian periods. These items function primarily as pendants, often suspended from matching gold or silver chains.
How they were made
Goldsmiths and silversmiths utilised 9ct gold, 18ct yellow gold, 15ct gold and sterling silver as the primary structural metals for these lockets. Many pieces incorporate back-and-front construction techniques or gold-gilt layers over base metals.
Craftsmen enriched the metal surfaces with hand-engraving, engine-turned detailing, intricate repoussé floral baskets and delicate enamel work. Gemstones such as rubies, turquoise, opals, diamonds, emeralds and pearls were flush-set or mounted as accents.
Antique Floral Locket Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for floral locket among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
What varies in quality
Quality in these items rests upon the crispness of the botanical hand-engraving and the structural integrity of the internal hinge and snap closure. Superior examples retain sharp leaf and petal definitions without softening from decades of wear or polishing.
The selection and setting of gemstones also dictate the tier of the piece, with well-matched natural pearls, vibrant rubies and unblemished enamel indicating superior workshop standards. The gauge of the gold or silver and the complexity of multi-part frames further distinguish finer items from standard production.
The Antique Floral Locket Glossary
- Back and front
- A construction method where the outer shells of the locket are made of gold enclosing a base metal core for structural rigidity.
- Engine turned
- A geometric surface pattern cut into the metal using a specialised lathe machine, creating precise repeating decorative lines.
- Pietra dura
- An artistic technique using inlaid cut and fitted polished coloured stones to form floral and pictorial mosaic motifs.
- Repoussé
- A metalworking method where the design is hammered into relief from the reverse side to create raised botanical details.
- Puffy heart
- A three-dimensional hollow pendant formed from two convex metal halves soldered together to resemble a swollen heart.
Antique Floral Locket: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I open an antique locket?
Most pieces feature a small thumbnail notch along the side seam that releases the internal spring-loaded hinge when pressed gently.
Avoid using sharp metal tools to pry open stubborn cases, as this can scratch the gold or silver and damage the surrounding floral engravings.
Can I wear my locket every day?
These historic pieces tolerate daily wear if treated with care, though delicate hinges and glass portrait compartments require protection from knocks.
Remove your pendant before swimming, exercising or sleeping to prevent straining the chain or wearing down the delicate exterior metalwork.
How do I date an antique locket?
Examining the style of the floral motifs, the font of internal inscriptions and the alloy marks helps determine the period of manufacture.
Art Nouveau pieces show flowing asymmetric plant stems, while Victorian designs favour realistic roses and engraved forget-me-nots within symmetrical borders.
What is inside a photo locket?
Original lockets frequently contain tiny metal frames and transparent mica or glass covers designed to hold miniature paper photographs securely.
Collectors often find faded portrait photographs or woven locks of human hair left behind inside these sentimental Victorian and Edwardian keepsakes.