Being drawn to the Art Nouveau era's sensibilities aligns with you captivated by curvaceous organic forms.
Known for its whiplash curve and themes inspired by nature and the mythical, it isn't often you see a straight line or pure geometry during this inventive period in history (around 1890-1920).
It is a snap to place this antique locket during those years. An iris flower comes alive with undulating, ruffled petals and edges. Texture emphasizes depth and the illusion of a three-dimensional portrayal.
Beside the blossom is a wave emanating from the top and crashing into five curlicues and a bent leaf. It takes a moment to realize these are indeed stylized leaves, exaggerated for effect.
The locket is round in shape and made of 10k yellow gold. It opened to the side with a near-invisible hinge. Room for two photos, one still retains its gold frame. The other now missing is still ready to hold another photo by the lip.
On the reverse, hand-engraved initials in fancy script are so decorative they read like a design, not a monogram. The letters are possibly ICW or JCW.
