Found this locket in my yard

I finally opened it, it has mirrors inside om both sides that open a bit. I don't want to break it. Opening it already caused a bit of damage. Does anyone know anything? It was found in greensboro north carolina in dirt in my back yard.

 

Welcome!
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Those who know more will be along.
Do not try to open it again until the pros come by.

 

Welcome, Gabbypia! What's the size on this? Does the design on the side you showed also appear on the other?

 

Yes it is the same design on both sides. It is about an inch.

 

A little mineral oil on a piece of cotton will help clean it a bit. Might even loosen the hinge. Don't saturate the locket as you don't want the oil to get behind the mirror.
Just put a little on a cloth and rub.

Wait for other suggestions before you try it. There may be something better.

 

I'm just curious, Gabbypia, but was it found in the vicinity of (neighborhoods around) one of the three historic women's colleges in your town -- Greensboro College, UNC-Greensboro, Bennett College or even Guilford College which was co-educational early on.

 

I live in college hill so by uncg which used to be a womens college and greensboro college

 

I thought you might have found it in the vicinity of one of those colleges. I look forward to others posting who will know the what and when of your locket.

 

If you could clean it as clutteredcloset suggested and look for tiny marks, you might find something that could be identified? The marks might be very small, so use magnification to examine it. And a strong light would help.

It does appear to be old. I'm interested that the hinge is on the opposite side of the hook for hanging it. And also that it has mirrors inside instead of pictures. So I wonder if it had some use? One inch is fairly small.

 

I will try to ckean it today, now im not sure if it is a mirror it maybe once was just shiny metal, im questioning if there was once pictures in it.

 

Looking again this morning.
Looks like it might be silver plate, the hinge doesn't look like quality for silver, but it may be.

Once you clean some of the dirt off. If you have a Sunshine cloth or other silver cleaning cloth, I would rub it down and see if it shines up.