Featured Photo locket silver plate

Discussion in 'Jewelry' started by Chinoiserie, Jul 18, 2026.

  1. Chinoiserie

    Chinoiserie Well-Known Member

    I picked this up today. Looks like silver plate and has some unusual marks inside. Victorian perhaps?



    20260718_132839_copy_2959x3945.jpg 20260718_133251_copy_2794x3725.jpg 20260718_132815_copy_2898x3864.jpg 20260718_133304_copy_3060x4080.jpg
     
    Chinoiserie, Jul 18, 2026
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  2. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Yes, a Victorian locket, probably 1880-1890.
    Do you mean those scratches? I often see them inside antique lockets, but don't know what they're for.
     
    Any Jewelry, Jul 18, 2026
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  3. Chinoiserie

    Chinoiserie Well-Known Member

    Okay thanks. If you don't know then I am doomed. The same marks are in both sides. Looks Greek to me.
     
    Chinoiserie, Jul 18, 2026
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  4. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    :nailbiting::bag::playful:
    Maybe a maker's code so they know which half goes with which?
     
    Any Jewelry, Jul 18, 2026
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  5. daveydempsey

    daveydempsey Moderator Moderator

    It has a look of the British War Dept "Broad Arrow" symbol also known as a Crows Foot
     
    daveydempsey, Jul 18, 2026
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  6. daveydempsey

    daveydempsey Moderator Moderator

    Researching the Pic on AI

    No similar picture shown but......


    A silver locket bearing the War Department "Broad Arrow" is a piece of British military-issued equipment, likely dating to the early-to-mid 20th century. The symbol indicates that the silver casing or the original owner’s identification was government-registered property.

    While most broad-arrow items are utility tools or weapons, lockets were typically privately purchased by soldiers as keepsakes. If the locket itself is marked, it suggests the exterior case or its chain were standard issue or officially accounted for, rather than a civilian purchase
     
    daveydempsey, Jul 18, 2026
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  7. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    As we know, AI is very good at inventing stories, so I wonder if that is what happened here.
    Isn't the arrow a bit thin to be a Broad Arrow? I only know them from the Ordnance Survey, and those arrows are broad/thick, not thin like this one.
     
    Any Jewelry, Jul 18, 2026
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  8. daveydempsey

    daveydempsey Moderator Moderator

    As soon as I saw it I thought War Dept, even though it is called Broad Arrow they can be thin.
    Look at these.

    ba001-copy.jpg



    IMG_2478.jpg
     
    daveydempsey, Jul 18, 2026
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  9. Chinoiserie

    Chinoiserie Well-Known Member

    Quite possibly.
     
    Chinoiserie, Jul 18, 2026
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  10. daveydempsey

    daveydempsey Moderator Moderator

    Could also be clash marks from the pattern of other pieces before they were put together.
    Sometimes called Bag Marks especially on US silver coinage
     
    daveydempsey, Jul 18, 2026
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  11. Chinoiserie

    Chinoiserie Well-Known Member

    Thanks Dave. I cant find any military examples to compare it with. I found this example of a victorian one with other symbols engraved inside..

    https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/186...how_sold_out_detail=1&ref=nla_listing_details

    Anyway, ive given it a polish and the yellow has vanished. It actually looks like solid silver now but alas no marks anywhere.

    20260718_163508_copy_1891x2521.jpg
     
    Chinoiserie, Jul 18, 2026
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  12. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    I thought it would be silver, but I don't have it in hand.
    No marks could mean it is German, they were usually sloppy at marking, some did, some didn't. Someone could have brought it over to the UK.
    Most of mine have marks inside them as well.
     
    Any Jewelry, Jul 18, 2026
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  13. Marote

    Marote Well-Known Member

    The decoration on this one looks more like yours
    https://www.etsy.com/listing/1575131918
    upload_2026-7-19_4-5-5.png
    Described as Victorian .800 silver
     
    Marote, Jul 18, 2026
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  14. Marote

    Marote Well-Known Member

    Well, in the title it's described as .800

    This is the full description...
    "Antique English Victorian Aesthetic style locket with ribbon tape decor, made in 925 sterling silver.
    1890 - 1900's, Germany.
    Tested and hallmarked by Czech Assay Office (2024) as 800 silver."
    :confused:
     
    Marote, Jul 18, 2026
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  15. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    ya.........:confused::confused::confused::wideyed:
     
    komokwa, Jul 19, 2026
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  16. Boland

    Boland Well-Known Member

    Once almost brought a cool little old locket (great price) till I discovered it still had a little photo of a gentleman in it.. For some reason I found that a little unsettling (or maybe even a bit creepy) and it felt wrong just to want to take the photo out so I just didn’t buy it. (sounds silly or stupid now but anyway) I don’t have a problem with old photos of people or anything,but to me
    that locket immediately felt as such a personal or intimate object..
     
    Boland, Jul 19, 2026
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  17. Chinoiserie

    Chinoiserie Well-Known Member

    Thanks. Thats set the record straight :D
     
    Chinoiserie, Jul 19, 2026
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  18. Chinoiserie

    Chinoiserie Well-Known Member

    I had one with a photo in a job lot I sold last week. I didn't want to disturb him so I just left him in there.
     
    Chinoiserie, Jul 19, 2026
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  19. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    The seller is in Czechia, which has a lot of German (real!) silver. 800 was the usual German fineness at the time, although 835 is also seen.
     
    Any Jewelry, Jul 19, 2026
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