An incredible and rare era 1880s 1890s Japanese locket made in the Shakudo inlay decorative style. 

In this traditional and antique method of Japanese inlay, gold was inlaid into and onto a thick gold layered bronze brass base metal.  Samurai sword smiths made this style of jewellery after the samurai society was outlawed with the 19th century Meiji reform. The inlay of gold and blackened enamel was hand applied onto carved and engraved  recessed patterning onto the thick gold layered brass base locket. 

Please note that the rare and gorgeous Meiji era locket is unmarked yet the applied amalgam gold layer is thick and I am unable to see what the base metal of the locket is. The thick gold layer tests as true for gold with what I presume is the traditional Bronze base. 

Both lids of the Japanese antique locket are meticulously detailed - one with an intricate designs of Pheasants, birds and dragons and the other lid with a Japanese Volcanic mountain scape scene. The locket is incredible, noting that the black and coppery inlay remains only on certain recesses of the engraved scenes. 

Dimensions: 34mm hang x 22mm hang.

These lockets fetch high prices due to their collectability and rarity.  I have found none like this locket yet the prices for similar Shakudo inlay lockets range from R18 000.00.