WWI era double-sided pendant locket featuring an Australian soldier

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c. 1915

Overview

World War One era double-sided, circular pendant locket containing the portraits of the head and shoulders of an Australian soldier on one side, and the same much older man on the other.
The greyscale image on the front shows a soldier dressed in uniform, with the rising sun collar badges visible on the lapels. He is wearing his slouch hat with the brim turned up on the left side and the chin strap positioned above his chin.
The portrait on the reverse is in colour and shows a man wearing a dark coloured jumper, shirt and tie. He appears to be standing in front of a rock formation and vegetation.
The surrounds of the pendant comprise an evenly twisted piece of gold tone metal wire which forms a six pointed, round edged star pattern. The circular border around the edge of the portraits is made from the same gold toned metal. There is wear to the gold, revealing the base metal beneath. A thin piece of celluloid covers each photograph.
There are no hallmarks or maker's marks.
There is a gold metal spherical fixture at the top which has an affixed loop through which a chain could be threaded.

Historical information

The identity of the soldier is unknown, as is often the case with such items. However, given that there are two portraits of the same man taken several decades apart, it is safe to say that he survived the war.
Photo lockets, pendants and brooches were very popular during wartime and there are a large number of them in the collection.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00571

Item type

Themes

Social History
War and Conflict
War and Conflict > World War 1

Material