Small Hours | Victorian Gold Filled Mourning Hair Locket Pendant, c. 1890s–1910s

A more formal era for emotional complications. By the late Victorian era, people had become remarkably skilled at disguising emotional intensity beneath good manners, structured clothing, and carefully managed social rituals. Mourning lockets and hair jewelry allowed certain attachments to remain physically close without requiring public explanation. Tiny objects, yes. Rarely small feelings. This Victorian gold filled mourning hair locket features a softly domed center framed by intricate floral repoussé work and a delicate twisted border, all rendered at a scale small enough to feel genuinely private. The interior retains the shallow enclosed compartment typical of hair lockets from the period, designed to hold a physical remembrance rather than a photograph. Today, it reads less like overt mourning jewelry and more like evidence that people have always found elegant ways to carry emotional complications around with them. Details Era: Late Victorian to Early Edwardian, c. 1890s–1910s Material: Gold Filled Hallmarks: None observed Size: Approx. 3/4 inch diameter Style Notes: Especially compelling layered alongside heavier chains where the small scale feels intentional rather than delicate Condition: Good antique condition with visible age wear throughout, including light impressions to the reverse side from long-term wear and use. Interior compartment and hinge remain intact and functional. Please Note: Jewelry box, chains, styling props, and any additional items shown in photos are for display purposes only unless specifically listed as included. Your piece will arrive carefully packaged in RetroStarr signature wrapping, ready for gifting or keeping entirely for yourself. Curated by Dana Sednek, GIA trained jewelry professional and founder of RetroStarr, where each jewel is hand selected for its past lives and future attitude.