Description
Date: c. 1876-1890, Victorian / Meiji era
Materials: Shakudō locket body (a Japanese copper-gold alloy, burnished black to resemble Japanese lacquer), solid 14k gold bail, silver and solid 18k gold overlay decorations (unmarked, tested with nitric-muriatic acid and electronic gold tester).
Weight: 47.6 grams
Height: 66.7 mm (including bail), 48 mm (locket body only)
Width (at max. point): 34.7 mm
Depth (at max. point): 22.4 mm
Condition: age stains to the interior silk lining. One side of the locket contains cover glass; it’s possible both halves originally contained cover glass. Some surface scratches. However, the locket is overall very well preserved: all of the inlay decorations are present and in good condition; none of the relief overlay decorations are missing or damaged. The bail is strong and in good condition.