Victorian Aesthetic Period Locket

Beautiful Victorian Aesthetic period locket featuring an image of a swallow on the front and the beautifully engraved initials EA on the back. The locket is on a sterling silver chain.

The Aesthetic Movement in Britain (1860 – 1900) aimed to escape the ugliness and materialism of the Industrial Age, by focusing instead on producing art that was beautiful rather than having a deeper meaning.

Swallows are birds known to mate for life, and they always return to their nests after time away. They were therefore used in Victorian and Edwardian jewellery to symbolise love and constancy. Swallow lockets, as well as other jewellery bearing the image of a swallow, were therefore also often given to loved ones when the giver set out on a long journey, as a charm to keep them safe until their return, and to guide the giver home. The symbol of the swallow often meant, 'to safely return home'.

Container jewellery to house tokens and special items have been around since Egyptian times and the first  “lockets” held medicinal herbs, religious relics, prayers or perfumes. Elizabeth 1 is thought to have owned one of the first sentimental lockets which was a ring depicting tiny portraits of both herself and her mother Anne Boleyn. Before the invention of photography locks of hair were often put in lockets to remind you of loved ones. The popularity of lockets as a keepsake grew with the widespread use of photography and endures today.

The locket measures 4cm x 2.4cm and the chain measures 44cm.

All Leoni & Vonk jewellery is packaged in a black wallet/pouch. If your Leoni & Vonk purchase is a special gift and you would like it gift wrapped please go to the Gift Wrap section here and make your selection https://leoniandvonk.com/collections/gift-wrap

This unique piece of jewellery may have signs of wear due to its history. It is beautifully imperfect and should be treated with love and care. This locket has a couple of slight dents on the back but is overall in very good antique condition.