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- Antique Victorian Gold and Enamel Lily of the Valley Locket
Antique Victorian Gold and Enamel Lily of the Valley Locket
Antique Victorian Gold and Enamel Lily of the Valley Locket
Bold, Delicate.
This mid-sized locket is a weighty, tactile lozenge that invites touch and examination. The rich gold has that satiny, soft sheen and texture imparted only by human touch over many years. The simplicity of the oval form is embellished only by a bouquet of lily of the valley, rendered delicately, yet boldly, in black and white enamel.
The lily of the valley is one of our favorite flowers, with so many sentimental associations. It is the birth flower for the month of May. It is a symbol of love, good luck, and a return to happiness. It is at times associated with sadness or loss, but in the hopeful sense that happiness will one day return.
Best of all? Our locket has a story to tell. On the reverse, there is an inscription for “J.F. Pike Scrivener.” Our research points to John Frederick Pike Scrivener (1791-1866), who married Dorothea Fisher (1799-1889) in 1839, when he would have been in his late 40s.
Dorothea was a member of the Scrivener family of Sibton Abbey, prominent in Suffolk. Upon marriage, John Frederick Pike assumed the Scrivener surname. Dorothea eventually inherited Sibton Abbey and manor.
Inside the locket’s compartments (complete with original rims and covers), we glimpse John Frederick via a portrait and a lock of hair. From these clues, pointing to a man in middle age, we believe this locket was worn during his lifetime as a love token, perhaps by Dorothea, rather than a mourning piece. What do you think?
Chain shown is not included.
Unmarked.
15k gold, enamel (black and white), glass.
Dimensions and weight:
● 40 mm/30.3 mm long (including loops/excluding loops)
● 24.5 mm wide
● 6.5 mm deep
● 15.6 grams (total)
Period: Victorian (mid-19th century).
*Please note that all dimensions and weights are approximate. Age-commensurate wear may be present. At buyer’s option, we can have our jeweler remove the contents of the locket. Please contact us with your request upon ordering.
*For deliveries outside of the continental U.S., please contact us for shipping information.
Bold, Delicate.
This mid-sized locket is a weighty, tactile lozenge that invites touch and examination. The rich gold has that satiny, soft sheen and texture imparted only by human touch over many years. The simplicity of the oval form is embellished only by a bouquet of lily of the valley, rendered delicately, yet boldly, in black and white enamel.
The lily of the valley is one of our favorite flowers, with so many sentimental associations. It is the birth flower for the month of May. It is a symbol of love, good luck, and a return to happiness. It is at times associated with sadness or loss, but in the hopeful sense that happiness will one day return.
Best of all? Our locket has a story to tell. On the reverse, there is an inscription for “J.F. Pike Scrivener.” Our research points to John Frederick Pike Scrivener (1791-1866), who married Dorothea Fisher (1799-1889) in 1839, when he would have been in his late 40s.
Dorothea was a member of the Scrivener family of Sibton Abbey, prominent in Suffolk. Upon marriage, John Frederick Pike assumed the Scrivener surname. Dorothea eventually inherited Sibton Abbey and manor.
Inside the locket’s compartments (complete with original rims and covers), we glimpse John Frederick via a portrait and a lock of hair. From these clues, pointing to a man in middle age, we believe this locket was worn during his lifetime as a love token, perhaps by Dorothea, rather than a mourning piece. What do you think?
Chain shown is not included.
Unmarked.
15k gold, enamel (black and white), glass.
Dimensions and weight:
● 40 mm/30.3 mm long (including loops/excluding loops)
● 24.5 mm wide
● 6.5 mm deep
● 15.6 grams (total)
Period: Victorian (mid-19th century).
*Please note that all dimensions and weights are approximate. Age-commensurate wear may be present. At buyer’s option, we can have our jeweler remove the contents of the locket. Please contact us with your request upon ordering.
*For deliveries outside of the continental U.S., please contact us for shipping information.
