Small oval locket measuring 1 1/8 x 1 3/4 inches, containing a tintype portrait of an unidentified Civil War soldier. The subject is shown from the chest up, wearing a military coat with a high, stand-up collar and a row of brass buttons, possibly indicating infantry service. His hair is neatly parted, and he sports a trimmed mustache, gazing directly at the camera with a composed, steady expression.
The portrait is framed within an ornate gilt mat featuring a raised foliate design, the locket case providing both protection and an elegant presentation. Lockets such as this were personal keepsakes, often worn or carried by loved ones during the war as a tangible connection to the soldier while he was away in service.
This piece embodies the intimate scale and personal significance of Civil War-era photographic jewelry, blending the utilitarian nature of early portrait photography with the sentimental traditions of the mid-19th century. It remains an evocative artifact of both military history and private remembrance.
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