ANTIQUE VICTORIAN AESTHETIC PERIOD SILVER BOOK CHAIN NECKLACE & LG LOCKET C.1870

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ANTIQUE VICTORIAN AESTHETIC PERIOD SILVER BOOK CHAIN NECKLACE & LG LOCKET C.1870:
$683.84

Antique Victorian Silver Book Chain and Locket ….

I love the Aesthetic period, and the rage of “Japonism”because it held the roots of the Art Nouveau movement.

Japanism or the fashion for all things Japanesebegan when Japan re-opened it’s doors to traders in the mid 19thcentury, after more than 200 years of abstinence.

This wonderful “Book Chain” so called because theflat shaped chain was removed in the evening and many a lady would use it to marka place in her book. It is beautifully hand engraved with a foilate pattern but there is a little quirk with this chain - can you spot it??

Two of the links are reversed - at first I thought it a repair, but no - the pattern is on the reverse and it has been done during manufature. Now Jewellers would never have sent out such a mistake so I can only come to the conclusion that the customer requested this - why?

My own thoughts are that they are in memory of two losses and that the locket held pictures of them.

I canno tthink why else this would be the case. During the day of course, when the chain was turned around, the patterned links would be obvious reminders to anyone who cared to notice.

With the eclusion of the two links all of the rear is palin inclduing the locket so that the necklace can be worn eitherway – just as Night & Day Bracelets were worn plain during the day and turned over to the pattern for the evening.

The fabulous tall flat locket is 2\" high and jsut over 1 3/4\" wide. It features the elegant and fortuitious Crane - much used symbol of the Aesthetic Movement.

In fabulous condition with the exception ofone missing glass, long gone – I have put in some Acetate which works well as areplacement with the example, as you can see. the other side has the original glass and both have the frames. The connecting bolt ring is also a historical replacement and looks to be of low grade silver and not sterling.

Both the book chain and the locket are solid silver.

The chain is 18 1/2\" in length in cluding the ring.

Dates to C.1860 - 70

Weight is: 58.2g

It comes in the fabulous quality reproductionvintage double door box so would make a great gift.

M501

Please Note: All Weights & Measures areApproximate. Unless otherwise stated, any dimensions and estimated weights ofgemstones in this description have been determined without un-setting thestones and are, therefore, to be considered only as a probable because oflimitations imposed by the mount.