Box
1670-1680 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This little heart-shaped container was among the contents of an embroidered casket used by a young girl, Martha Edlin, to store her small personal possessions. It now takes the form of a tiny box but traces of some sort of fixing on the top edge suggest it may originally have been a locket. The two parts are no longer separable. One side is stamped with the image of a crowned man's head and the initials CR for King Charles II, and the other side a crowned lady, Catherine of Braganza, wife of Charles II.
People
A group of Martha Edlin's (1660-1725) possessions from her childhood, including this box, were kept in the casket, cherished by her descendants and passed down through the female line in her family for over three hundred years. We know little about her life, except that she married a man called Richard Richmond and appears to have been a prosperous widow, with daughters and grandchildren, living in Pinner in Greater London at the time she drew up her will.
This little heart-shaped container was among the contents of an embroidered casket used by a young girl, Martha Edlin, to store her small personal possessions. It now takes the form of a tiny box but traces of some sort of fixing on the top edge suggest it may originally have been a locket. The two parts are no longer separable. One side is stamped with the image of a crowned man's head and the initials CR for King Charles II, and the other side a crowned lady, Catherine of Braganza, wife of Charles II.
People
A group of Martha Edlin's (1660-1725) possessions from her childhood, including this box, were kept in the casket, cherished by her descendants and passed down through the female line in her family for over three hundred years. We know little about her life, except that she married a man called Richard Richmond and appears to have been a prosperous widow, with daughters and grandchildren, living in Pinner in Greater London at the time she drew up her will.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Stamped silver |
| Brief description | Silver heart-shaped box, made in England, 1670-1680 |
| Physical description | Heart-shaped box container of stamped silver formed of two flat sides with rims fitting one inside the other. It takes the form of a tiny box but traces of some sort of fixing on the top edge suggest it may originally have been a locket. The two parts are no longer separable. One side is stamped with an image of a crowned man's head and the initials 'CR' for Charles II, and the other side has a crowned lady (Catherine of Braganza). |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | 'CR' (Stamped on one side) |
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
MARTHA EDLIN'S TOYS AND JEWELLERY Martha Edlin's silver toys and jewellery came to the Museum in her casket. Some are practical, such as the manicure set and the bodkin which was used for threading ribbons. She may have played with the tiny silver trenchers (plates), spoons and salts. The round locket and heart-shaped box are stamped with images of King Charles II.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | Purchased with the assistance of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Art Fund |
| Object history | Purchased. Registered File number 1989/1572. Previously on loan to V&A since 1927. Part of Lady Gerahty Loan and Lewis Loan. Related papers include NF for Lady Gerahty, NF for Gillian Lewis, 86/713, 89/1572. |
| Production | From Martha Edlin's casket |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Object Type This little heart-shaped container was among the contents of an embroidered casket used by a young girl, Martha Edlin, to store her small personal possessions. It now takes the form of a tiny box but traces of some sort of fixing on the top edge suggest it may originally have been a locket. The two parts are no longer separable. One side is stamped with the image of a crowned man's head and the initials CR for King Charles II, and the other side a crowned lady, Catherine of Braganza, wife of Charles II. People A group of Martha Edlin's (1660-1725) possessions from her childhood, including this box, were kept in the casket, cherished by her descendants and passed down through the female line in her family for over three hundred years. We know little about her life, except that she married a man called Richard Richmond and appears to have been a prosperous widow, with daughters and grandchildren, living in Pinner in Greater London at the time she drew up her will. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.437-1990 |
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| Record created | May 5, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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