Lost Owl Strange Balloon Locket
The Eye like a Strange Balloon Mounts toward Infinity (L'Œil, comme un ballon bizarre se dirige vers l'infini) - Odilon Redon (1882)
An antique locket engraved by Lost Owl. Dedicated to Dreams and Odilon Redon and the Surreal.
'A hot-air balloon in the form of an eye soars above a marshy landscape, bearing a severed head on a plate. “Mounting toward infinity” is how Redon described this mysterious creature/contraption, which, released from the mind and the body, leaves behind the physical world to explore what lies beyond. In fin-de-siècle Paris, Redon was celebrated by Symbolist poets for his interest in making visible the world of dreams and fantasies. “My originality,” he wrote, “consists in bringing to life, in a human way, improbable beings and making them live according to the laws of probability, by putting—as far as possible—the logic of the visible at the service of the invisible.”' [Source: moma.org]
The locket and the original artwork date from the same period.
Era: Victorian, circa 1880
Size: 5.2cm (including bail) by 3.1cm
Marks: None, tested as silver
Condition: Great antique condition; a few minor dings/scuffs. Original glass remains inside. Engraving is new.
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)
US Shipments
US Customs now charges a 10% tariff on all UK shipments as they cross the border. We will pay this customs charge on your behalf. Import duties remain 0% on antiques.
[Last updated: 28th February 2026]
Resizing
Ring sizing is available on most rings
£55 flat fee
Resizing takes 7-14 days
Leave a note at checkout with your desired size
Note: sizing may remove some of the patina (although we take every care to reduce this where possible)
Layaway
25% deposit 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 or scrape is 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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