By the end of the 19th century, jewellery designers were moving away from the revival styles that dominated the late Victorian period and embracing the Art Nouveau. This aesthetic was inspired by nature, featuring flowing lines and light coloured gemstones and enamel. Mürrle Bennett & Co. was one of the first firms to bring this new style of jewellery to Britain, inspired by Continental taste and manufacturing and importing much of their work from Pforzheim in Germany.

Victorian pendants come in a wonderful variety of forms, from sentimental heart lockets to richly coloured gemstone and enamel designs. Spanning Queen Victoria’s reign from 1837 to 1901, the period saw major changes in how jewellery was made and worn. New sources of gemstones, advances in manufacturing and a growing fascination with the wider world introduced new materials, motifs and styles, while jewellery remained deeply personal and rich in symbolism.