This unusually large Victorian cross locket conceals twelve compartments behind oval glass panels—each one once meant to hold a portrait, lock of hair, or relic. The engraved front is a dense tangle of symbolic flora, carefully rendered by hand in gold: you’ll find ferns, lily of the valley, and ivy. Each of these plants held layered meaning in Victorian floriography—and in Christian art:
Ivy represented eternal life and fidelity. Its evergreen nature made it a potent emblem of remembrance.
Lily of the valley, associated with the Virgin Mary, stood for humility, purity, and the return of happiness after sorrow.
Ferns symbolized sincerity and secret bonds, a fitting motif for a locket designed to hold hidden mementos.
The cross form connects this intimate memorial piece with Christian notions of resurrection and everlasting life.
MATERIALS: 10k gold front plates, gold-cased frame, gold filled interior
AGE: c. 1880
CONDITION: Very good
SIZE: 2 5/8" length including the bale, 2 1/4" x 1 3/8" cross