My Research Begins

A Minor History of Lockets

After searching the names of the possible Idas, I started looking for the locket. Considering she died to retrieve it, I thought it was an appropriate place to start and to find some information to prove or disprove its possible existence. Using both internet articles, and library books, I found the following.

Photo locket jewelry has been around since Queen Elizabeth 1st who wore a locket ring. The locket pendants we have today became all the rage during the American Civil War. Though mostly round or oval shape at the time, they did carry everything from dried flowers to poison, from photos to hair and from letters from a loved one to even their ashes themselves.

However, heart-shaped lockets became a thing after Queen Victoria wore one when her husband, Prince Albert passed away. The engraving was around back in Queen Victoria’s day however, it only became hugely popular during the reign of her son, King Edward. The script style of writing on the locket was used at the time and, I did manage to find a gold locket for sale online marked with the year 1910. To make it even better, it also had initials in scriptwriting engraved on the front. Now, I don’t have proof that it was made or used in 1910 as I have not been able to get the owner to reply to my inquiries. It does however make me feel like I am on the right path.

Lastly, while researching I came across an article about a recent find. Among the wreckage of the Titanic, a gold, round photo locket was found in 2017. It belonged to Virginia Clark with her initials of VC engraved on the locket itself. Virginia survived the disaster but her husband, Walter did not. At the very least, I felt that in 1912 one could go out and purchase a gold photo locket in the shape of a heart and have it engraved with initials.