This sweet silver locket features a hand-engraved scene with two applied yellow gold birds and a rose gold butterfly.  It was made during the Aesthetic movement, c. 1870-1880, when Western takes on Japanese art appeared on everything from teapots to jewelry. Many striking jewels were fabricated in silver, and feature japanesque motifs like fans, flowers, bamboo and birds engraved on bold, geometric silver pieces. On this particular locket, the birds are meant to be brushed warblers, a traditional Japanese symbol of spring. The colored gold details applied on top of the silver are a nod to Japanese shakudo work. This pendant measures 2 ¼ inches in length and 1 ½ inches in width. It is in excellent antique condition.