Edwardian Picture Locket
An edwardian picture locket holds close what matters, combining precious metalwork with intimate portraits from a distinct era of design.
Edwardian Picture Locket
An edwardian picture locket is a hinged pendant designed to hold miniature photographs or mementos, appearing in configurations such as simple oval cases, heart shapes, and book-style hinged forms. When buyers search for an edwardian picture locket, they encounter pieces that range from straightforward silver frames to ornate gold designs adorned with engravings or stones.
The pieces listed across this inventory demonstrate how Edwardian examples sit alongside overlapping Victorian, 19th Century, and mid-century items, including specific forms like the French Belle Epoque sunburst and filigree secret pendants. These objects span simple metal constructions, silver items, and substantial examples in nine-carat and eighteen-carat yellow gold.
Makers and manufacturers produced these lockets in various configurations, including double photograph layouts, four-photo family designs, and glass-fronted pieces that display portraits directly. The selection reflects both domestic British work and continental French influences from periods surrounding the official Edwardian years.
Materials and construction
Gold and silver form the primary structural materials for these lockets, utilising nine-carat gold, eighteen-carat yellow gold, rolled gold, and sterling silver. Many lighter pieces employ a gold back and front construction over a base metal core to achieve a substantial appearance without excessive weight.
Surface decoration relies on hand engraving, floral motifs, swallow bird imagery, and filigree wirework soldered to the metal body. Gemstones such as diamonds and emeralds appear flush-set or star-set into the covers of finer examples, while faceted glass protects the photographic contents inside.
Edwardian Picture Locket Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for edwardian picture 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.
Swallow birds and flower baskets flutter across the gold covers, carrying secret messages inside.
Distinctions in quality
Quality in these lockets rests upon the weight and purity of the precious metal, moving from thin rolled gold and base metal variants up to solid eighteen-carat yellow gold and heavy sterling silver. Substantial gauge metal resists denting and maintains the structural integrity of the hinge over decades of opening.
The crispness and depth of hand engraving distinguish superior pieces from mass-produced stamped items, particularly where intricate flower baskets or sunbursts are delineated. Internal bezel fittings and secure snap closures also separate finer workshop production from simpler commercial output.
The Edwardian Picture Locket Glossary
- Back and front
- A method of construction where the outer plates of the locket are made of gold, while the internal rims and lining utilise a base metal for strength.
- Filigree
- Delicate openwork ornamentation formed from fine twisted gold or silver threads soldered together in intricate patterns.
- Rolled gold
- A durable material made by fusing a sheet of gold to a base metal core, offering greater thickness than standard gold plating.
- Book locket
- A hinged pendant shaped and decorated to resemble a miniature hardcover book, often opening to reveal multiple photograph compartments.
Edwardian Picture Locket: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I open an old picture locket?
Most lockets utilise a small side catch or a thumbnail notch designed to release the spring-loaded or friction-fit cover when gentle pressure is applied.
Take care not to force stiff hinges, as aged metal and delicate bezels can bend if twisted incorrectly.
Can I put modern photos inside?
Modern photographic prints can be trimmed to fit the internal bezels, though original paper photographs often remain tucked behind the glass.
Use a thin template of paper to measure the exact aperture shape before cutting any replacement picture.
What is rolled gold?
Rolled gold is a composite material created by mechanically bonding a solid layer of gold to a base metal substrate under heat and pressure.
This technique provides the appearance and wear resistance of solid gold at a different weight and material cost.
How do I date an antique locket?
Dating relies upon hallmarks, the style of engraving, the form of the hinge, and the overall design motifs characteristic of periods like the Edwardian era or Victorian times.
Comparative study of fastener styles and internal frame designs helps narrow the decade of manufacture.