Victorian Book Locket
A remarkable Victorian book locket dating from the 1860s. It's crafted in 9 carat gold, and the outer covers are intricately engraved with floral and ribbon-like designs, but the real magic is revealed upon opening. Inside there's a ghostly photograph, partially... missing... it appears to have decayed over the years, leaving an etherial apparition of a man. Then the inscription on the other side tells us something about said man... it reads:
"PRESENTED TO
W'm [William] Haythornthwaite
by the Masters & Workpeople
at Foundry Hill Mill,
as a mark of respect.
FEB'Y 15. 1868"
William Haythornthwaite was born in 1815 in Burnley, Lancashire, married Jane Nelson, and had eight children - seven daughters! Foundry Hill mill was a textiles factory in Blackburn, Lancashire, in operation between 1828 and 1922 (at least, maybe longer). At its peak, it ran 184,888 spindles, 1970 looms, shirtings dhooties and long cloths (I have no idea what that means, but it sounds like a lot). Quite what the connection between William and the mill was is unclear, but I'd hazard a guess that he was an engineer of some kind, responsible for the upkeep or upgrade of the machinery. It's curious that the locket was presented by both Masters and Workpeople... And, of course, the majority of those 'workpeople' were likely women and children.
Era: Victorian, circa 1868
Size: 3.3cm (including bail) by 1.9cm
Marks: Bail stamped .375 (for 9ct gold)
Condition: Fair, the edges/corners show signs of wear - see images
Full appraisal document provided with each item.
This includes a valuation for insurance purposes, item specifics, date, and origins (where applicable).
Gemstones are tested by an accredited gemmologist (Cert GA, Gemmological Association of Great Britain).
Shipping
UPS Express shipping is free of charge on international orders over £300 and it's carbon offset
Tracked and insured with signature on delivery
RM Special Delivery (UK domestic)
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Resizing
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£55 flat fee
Resizing takes 7-14 days
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Note: sizing may remove some of the patina (although we take every care to reduce this where possible)
Layaway
A 25% deposit will be taken to secure the item. The remaining balance will be settled in 90 days. You can pay installments weekly, monthly, or the full balance at the end - whatever works.
Condition
We offer detailed and accurate condition reports on each listing. These pieces are antique, vintage, or pre-loved and often over 100 years old so they're going to have lived a life. A healthy patina and the odd scuff/scrape are quite normal... it's part of their charm! Everything we present has been checked over by our jeweller and should be good for wear for many years to come (unless otherwise stated) but please remember to treat them with appropriate care and consideration for their age.
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