This beautifully made Aesthetic‐period locket is engraved with a bird and butterfly among stylized foliage - motifs that were beloved in the late 19th century as British designers looked to Japanese art and natural forms. Inside the locket is a handwritten dedication on parchment naming dozens of individuals, mostly women, dated 1880 and associated with Osborne Park, Belfast. Our best guess is that it was presented as a gift, likely to a teacher, organizer, or mentor by the group who signed it. Lockets with formal inscriptions survive infrequently and this one preserves the names, original paper, and curled hair (which can be removed if you wish).
"Presented by... Osborne Park Belfast 1880" a long list of names, mostly women but a few mens names at the end of the list- best guess is this was presented to a teacher by her students or colleagues
MATERIALS: 14k tricolor gold, glass lenses, hair work, parchment paper with a handwritten dedication
AGE: c. 1880
CONDITION: Very good - minor surface wear commensurate with age and use
SIZE: 2 1/4" length including the bale, 1 1/4" width