1900's Gibson Girl Locket Necklace

The pen and ink drawings of illustrator Charles Gibson came to represent the spirit of the early twentieth century in America. The “Gibson Girl” is probably the best remembered of the artist’s images. Some people argue that the Gibson Girl was the first national standard for feminine beauty. The images of her epitomized the late 19th and early 20th century Western preoccupation with statuesque, youthful features, and ephemeral beauty. She was portrayed as the feminine ideal in elegant dresses, bustle gowns, shirtwaists, and terraced, shorter skirts. With her hair piled atop her head and a waist so tiny as to defy belief, the Gibson Girl represented a serene self-confidence that could surmount any problem.

This is a rare cameo locket with a beautiful portriat of a Gibson Girl surrounded in flowers and embellished with small faceted stones. It is gold filled circa 1905. The necklace is an etched 14k gold filled chain with vintage crystal beads, and my signature cloisonne bead at the clasp.

This 1900's Gibson Girl Locket Necklace is on sale at www.vintagerehab.etsy.com.

Family Heirlooms

Originally from the Victorian era, lockets have been around for centuries and their uses are constantly expanding from being given as a condolence for those who have lost a loved one, to romantic gifts and keepsakes passed down into every generation.

At a trunk show last weekend, a woman became teary-eyed as she looked a my vintage locket necklaces. She told me that her mother once had a locket with her initials on it, but it was stolen. It was a one-of-a-kind heirloom that had much more sentimental value than worth. For years, this woman has been searching for her mother's locket or a special replacement. Finally, she found a one with her inital 'H'. Unfortunately, now her mother is very sick, so she hesitated to buy.

Days later a man ordered this same locket for his wife who will be delivering their first child any day now. Although the little girl's name is a secret he told me it starts with a H, so this piece spoke to him. What a sentimental gift to commemorate this special day. I imagine the proud mama showing off her baby's picture inside the locket. In turn, I picture the daughter's excitement then this family heirloom is passed down to her. Already this 1900's 'H' Locket Necklace has many stories to tell. This is what I love about vintage lockets. Check out all of the fabulous, one-of-a-kind, vintage locket necklaces by Vintage Rehab.

Vintage Silver Cameo Locket Necklace

This vintage, sterling silver, cameo locket looks very Romanesque and Grecian which is where most of the truly superior ancient cameo carving originated. It is in mint condition. The necklace is a new sterling silver chain with vintage givre west german slate glass beads and sterling silver spacer beads, and my signature cloisonne bead at the clasp.

For thousands of years, people have worn carved images as personal jewelry adornments. This lovely carved sculpture has cast a romantic spell over the wearers for centuries. Seen as both a keepsake for sentimental reasons, and a means of wearing gorgeous works of art, the cameo is one of the most treasured piece of vintage jewelry.

This Vintage Silver Cameo Locket Necklace is on sale at vintagerehab.etsy.com.

1900's 'DVA' Locket Necklace

I love finding vintage lockets with the original photos inside. This one dates back to the 1900's which makes these photographs over 100 years old. It is a gold-filled, circular locket that is beautifully etched with a moon and star stone inlay. On the back the initials 'DVA' are engraved. The necklace is a new 14k gold filled chain accented with vintage clear crystal beads. This 1900's 'DVA' Locket Necklace is on sale at vintagerehab.etsy.com.

1900's Jeweled Basket Weave Locket Necklace

1900's antique, Victorian Edwardian gold filled locket with a unique basket weave and jeweled design. The necklace is a new 14k gold filled chain with vintage clear crystal beads that accent the stones on the locket, and my signature cloisonne bead at the clasp.  

Edwardian refers to the period during the reign of Edward VII of England, but the style has it's beginnings during the final years of Victoria's reign, and continued until shortly before World War I when the more geometric influences later to be called Art Deco began to make headway.  In jewelry, this period was characterized by delicate filigree in white gold and platinum with diamonds and pearls predominating, and colored stones used less frequently, producing a light, monochromatic look.  Inside is an old photo of a special little girl that someone wore close to their heart.

1895 Art Nouveau Bird Locket Necklace

1895 Art Nouveau, gold filled locket is etched with a green stone in the center of a flower and a bird. Birds signify things of the intellect, understanding thoughts, ideas, reasonings, principles, consequently truths or falsity. The necklace is a new 14k gold filled chain, accented with vintage Swarovski green crystals, and my signature cloisonne bead at the clasp.

A New Treasure for Rehab

This is a 1895-1935 Art Nouveau gold filled locket that I just bought from an antique dealer.  It is in perfect condition and has a unique shape unlike any of the lockets I have found.   Here is what it looks like before I rehab it.  I am going to add a beautiful gold filled chain, that looks antique and pairs well with the old locket, and clear vintage crystal beads to accent the center stone. Keep checking my store for new items vintagerehab.etsy.com!

1940's Raised Heart Locket Necklace

This vintage heart locket is vermeils, sterling silver, plated with 12k gold, circa 1940's.  It has a unique engraved floral design around a raised silver heart.  The necklace is a new 14k gold filled chain accented with sterling silver, square beads.

The heart has long been used as a symbol to refer to the spiritual, emotional, moral, and in the past also intellectual core of human being.  As the heart was once widely believed to be the seat of the human mind, the word heart continues to be used poetically to refer to the soul, and stylized depictions of hearts are extremely prevalent symbols of representing love.

1900's Slider Locket Necklace

This antique locket from the 1900's uniquely slides open and holds two photos.  The necklace is created with limited stock, vintage gold filled chain, and accented with 12k gold plated Swarovski crystals that are both no longer manufactured.  The locket necklace is handmade with love.  

Please check out my etsy store to see my other 0ne-of-a-kind designs at vintagerehab.etsy.com!

1800s Hair Locket Necklace

1800's oval, rose gold filled locket hangs form a gold and seed pearl ornament.  Necklace is a vintage gold filled watch chain with a rare heart slide with an opal stone. Inside the locket is a lock of hair from a loved one that someone held close to their heart.  The fashion of wearing a locket actually predates the invention of photography in 1839.  Early lockets were made to protect treasured keepsakes like a lock of hair from a loved one, hence the name locket.

Hair art was common throughout the Victorian era.  It was used for a variety of functions from recording family history to tokens of affection exchanged between lovers.  Naturally, hair art also became popular means to memorialize loved ones who had passed on.  Mourning jewelry created with hair was intensely popular because it did not violate the strict code of conduct Victorian society imposed upon the conduct and dress of grieving persons.  Now, hair art and hair jewelry is a collectible that may be worth a lot of money. 

1800's Egyptian Revival Heart Locket Necklace

This is an Egyptian Revival locket with a Nouveau etched design from the 1800's. Some historians argue that the heart shape originated with the Egyptian concept of the ab, "the heart...the source of good and evil within a person, the moral awareness and centre of thought that could leave the body at will, and live with the gods after death, or be eaten by Ammut as the final death if failed to weigh equally.