From November 8 through the holidays, Loveday Boutique will showcase hand crafted contemporary lockets from 14 artisans, alongside a selection of vintage finds. These modern heirlooms are created with a range of materials, including precious metals, diamonds and gemstones, walnut wood, and Formica veneer.
“Lockets can open a conversation and create meaningful connections,” said Kirsten Ball, owner of Loveday Boutique. “I often wear my grandmother’s locket, which holds a photograph of her inside it. When I’m wearing it, I feel her comforting presence.”
The early history of the locket is linked to that of reliquary jewels, made to contain holy tokens from a martyred saint. Wearing a relic close to the body was a sign of faith and served as an amulet to protect the wearer against both physical and spiritual evils.
These intricate pieces gained popularity during the Georgian and Victorian eras, with hidden compartments to hold portraits, love notes, or a beloved’s lock of hair—tiny tokens of affection that could be kept close to the heart and hidden from view.
Queen Victoria popularized this sentimental aspect when she wore a locket containing Prince Albert’s portrait and a lock of his hair following his death. Today, the locket continues to evoke sentimental meaning. Passed down through generations, they are symbols of love, remembrance, and continuity, linking us to the stories of our ancestors and allowing us to carry a piece of our heritage with us.
For a truly one-of-a-kind gift, please visit this special exhibit from November 8 through the holidays at Loveday Boutique, 115 Commonwealth Ave. in West Concord.
*This article made possible with support from Loveday Boutique