This small but striking, silver and niello locket dates to the late 19th century, is probably French and is a beautiful piece of workmanship. 

 

Niello is a black mixture, usually of sulphur, copper, silver, and lead, used as an inlay on engraved or etched metal, especially silver. It is added as a powder or paste, then fired until it melts or at least softens, and flows or is pushed into the engraved lines in the metal. Here the technique has been used on the front and rear of the locket with a dense, repeating pattern and on the bale with banding - the strong constrast between the bright silver and the dark niello makes for really eye-catching decoration.

 

The two halves click shut with a small holding pin and inside there are two sepia photos of women who's identities have been lost to time. The left side of the locket has the original glass with a wonderfully soft bevel, the right side retains the metal framework but the glass has been replaced with a plastic insert which imitates the soft bevel well.

 

There's a very small area of wear to the niello work on the outer left edge the rear half. Other than this and this the piece can't be faulted. It measures 2.8cm high exc. bale, 4.1cm high inc. bale x 2.3cm wide x 0.8cm deep.

 

S/N: #1150