Victorian Scottish agate necklace and padlock. A necklace set with eleven elongated octagonal faceted Scottish agates with gold terminals and chain links between each section, set to front with a heart shaped agate set padlock with intricately engraved floral scene to reverse and with side opening hinge, necklace approximately 15.5" in length, padlock approximately 3.1cm in length to top of loop. Necklace tested yellow gold, padlock tested silver gilt, English, circa 1890.
Queen Victoria, reigning for sixty three years and seven months was the world famous style icon of the period. Her day to day pioneering fashion and jewellery choices were adopted with vigour by the public. Jewellery was an important aspect of Victoria's life, each piece being a memento of a particular celebration. The Queen was very interested in fashion, the corresponding jewels to match and keenly accepted new materials and new techniques in her jewellery creations. With the purchase of the Balmoral Estate in Scotland in 1848, Queen Victoria discovered a new jewellery passion- for jewellery composed of Scottish agates.
