Edwardian Glass Locket
An Edwardian glass locket holds a miniature portrait, hair work, or seed pearls behind a crystal face, offering a tangible keepsake from the early twentieth century.
Edwardian Glass Locket
An edwardian glass locket is a pendant designed to display a preserved keepsake, such as a photograph, hair work, or seed pearls, beneath a clear glass or crystal cover. These pieces frequently appear in silver, nine carat yellow gold, and eighteen carat yellow gold, often shaped as hearts, bows, ovals, or teardrops.
The selection on this page bridges the Victorian era and the early twentieth century, incorporating French Belle Epoque designs alongside Edwardian and Arts and Crafts influences. Alongside traditional pendants, certain examples double as brooches, charm pendants, or incorporate shaker elements where loose pearls move freely behind the glass.
The materials paired with the glass range from plain sterling silver to rich yellow gold, frequently accented by paste stones, amethyst paste, seed pearls, and enamel work. These lockets served as sentimental jewellery for keeping loved ones close, utilising screw mountings or hinged frames to secure the glass in place.
What varies in quality
The distinction between tiers rests upon the choice of precious metal, ranging from standard sterling silver and nine carat gold up to substantial eighteen carat gold constructions. Finer specimens incorporate genuine seed pearls, high-grade paste stones, or complex enamelling rather than plain metal surfaces.
Execution and preservation dictate value, particularly the tightness of the glass seating and the crispness of decorative motifs like bows and engraved frames. Pieces bearing maker marks demonstrate higher workshop pedigree than unmarked items of similar age.
Edwardian Glass Locket Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for edwardian glass 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.
Some lockets let tiny seed pearls rattle around like miniature snow globes behind your portrait.
Murrle Bennett
The Edwardian Glass Locket Glossary
- Shaker locket
- A locket featuring glass on one or both sides enclosing loose decorative elements such as seed pearls that move about freely. This style gained popularity during the late Victorian and Edwardian periods.
- Seed pearl
- Very small natural or cultured pearls, often drilled and threaded or glued onto jewellery to form delicate floral or geometric patterns. They are frequently seen framing glass portrait compartments.
- Screw locket
- A locket design utilising a threaded bezel or screw mechanism to hold the glass securely over the photograph or keepsake. This method allowed the wearer to access the internal compartment.
- Hair work
- The Victorian and Edwardian craft of arranging human hair into intricate commemorative patterns to be placed behind glass within a locket or brooch. It served as a sentimental memento of family members.
Edwardian Glass Locket: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I open a glass locket?
Many edwardian glass locket designs rely on a threaded screw bezel or a subtle hinge to release the transparent cover. Care must be taken not to apply pressure directly to the glass face.
Older mechanisms can become stiff over time, so gentle examination of the edge will reveal whether the frame unscrews or pivots open on a pin.
Can I put a photograph inside?
Most of these pieces were specifically designed to house small portraits, photographs, or paper mementos directly beneath the crystal or glass. Thin paper cut to the interior dimensions sits securely against the backing.
Original portrait inserts occasionally remain inside, offering a glimpse of the person the locket was originally made to commemorate over a century ago.
Are these lockets suitable for daily wear?
While these items were built for regular use in the early twentieth century, the presence of glass faces and delicate seed pearls requires mindfulness today. They withstand normal wear on a chain but should be removed before strenuous physical activity.
Water exposure should be avoided to protect internal paper photographs, hair work, and any adhesives used to secure delicate seed pearls within the frame.
What is a shaker locket?
A shaker locket is a specific construction featuring glass on the front and back, creating a hollow cavity where small items like seed pearls float freely. The wearer can watch the contents shift as the pendant moves.
These pieces required precise metalwork to ensure the glass panels remained sealed tightly enough to prevent the tiny internal elements from escaping.