Double Photo-holder Pendant, Mourning Jewelry, Napoleon III Style, Late 19th Century

Ebonite (pressed material) medallion pendant that opens to reveal a double glass photo frame. Floral motifs, including a pansy.
In good overall condition, with some very minor age-related wear.

Date: late 19th century, Napoleon III style

Dimensions: H 3.5 x W 2.8 x D 1.5 cm

During the Napoleonic III era, mourning jewelry was in vogue, worn by a society deeply influenced by the codes of Romanticism and the cult of remembrance. Inspired by Victorian traditions, these pieces of jewelry became intimate objects through which the elegant grief of bereaved families was expressed.

Among them, the photo locket held a special place. It opens discreetly to reveal a miniature portrait of a departed loved one. This small case, sometimes accompanied by a braided lock of hair, allows the deceased to be kept symbolically close to the heart.

Thus, beyond their decorative function, these lockets become true expressions of affection, blending art, memory, and emotion in an era when the tangible representation of remembrance took on essential importance.