About this Piece

Length	Just under 3/4” (excluding bail)
Width	Just over 5/8”
Material	Tests for gold filled, glass
Weight	4.2 grams
Mark	No mark
Era	Victorian

Why You’ll Love it

This antique Victorian charm is a poignant and heartfelt reminder of a loved one. The original photo inside adds a personal touch, allowing for a deeper connection to the person and keeping their memory alive. The chubby heart silhouette in a gold-filled setting is thoughtfully double-sided, with a blank cartouche and hand-etched foliated designs on one side and a devotional sentiment on the other, strikingly framed with black enameling. This sentimental piece is both unique and captivating and serves as a sweet symbol of love and loss.

Condition and Quality

●	Bright patina with minimal surface wear to the finish along the edges. No dents.
●	The original frame holds your photo tightly in place with a glass insert. A jeweler would need to place your photo inside.
●	Vivid enamel. There is a tiny bit of chipping, crackling and surface wear to the enamel that is noticeable on close inspection.
●	Secure, original bail.
●	Closes firmly with a satisfying “snap.”

Collector Note

On Hearts. The heart symbol holds a captivating history within the realm of jewelry. The heart motif has been a powerful emblem of love, affection, and sentimentality for centuries. In ancient times, the heart shape was associated with a person's spiritual and emotional essence. It became a popular symbol of devotion and courtly love during the Middle Ages. In the Victorian era, sentimental jewelry, including lockets and pendants, often featured intricate heart designs, serving as a token of love and remembrance. The heart symbol continued to evolve throughout the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods, with designers exploring new interpretations and incorporating innovative materials.

On Mourning Jewelry. Mourning jewelry from the Georgian and Victorian eras were special, custom pieces designed in the memory of a deceased loved one. While many mourning pieces used dark materials like natural onyx or jet to convey grief, they were often surprisingly hopeful, as the majority of the western world believed they would one day be reunited with their loved one in the afterlife. Pieces incorporated symbols that represented this hope or the characteristics of their loved one, as well as locks of hair or small portraits. Today, collecting and wearing antique mourning jewelry is to honor the memory of a real person and appreciate the sentimentality of a bygone era.