Slide thumbnail 1
Slide thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Jewellery, Rooms 91 to 93 mezzanine, The William and Judith Bollinger Gallery

Slide

ca. 1700 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Jewels commemorating the dead were widely worn during the 17th century. From the inscription on the back of this slide, which is partially in latin, we know that it was made in memory of a child with the initials IC who had died on the 6th July (year not recorded) aged 3 years and 8 months.

Imagery such as skeletons, skulls and winged hourglasses were frequently used for such jewellery, produced as standard components in stamped and enamelled gold. Hair was also often incorporated.

The slide was a very popular type of jewel at this date. Fitted with two flat loops at the back, a ribbon of silk or woven hair would be threaded through enabling it to be worn around the neck or wrist.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Enamelled gold with hair under rock crystal
Brief description
Gold slide, with an enamelled skeleton holding an arrow with the initials IC on a background of hair under crystal, engraved on the back IC OBT 6 JUL AETA 3 YE 8 MO, made in England, about 1700.
Physical description
Gold slide, with an enamelled skeleton holding an arrow with the initials IC on a background of hair under rock crystal. Engraved on the back IC OBT 6 JUL AETA 3 YE 8 MO.
Dimensions
  • Height: 2.1cm
  • Width: 2.3cm
  • Depth: 1.1cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • IC (initials)
  • IC OBT 6 JUL AETA 3 YE 8 MO (Engraved on the back.)
    Translation
    IC died 6 July aged 3 years 8 months
Credit line
Bequeathed by Frank Ward
Subjects depicted
Summary
Jewels commemorating the dead were widely worn during the 17th century. From the inscription on the back of this slide, which is partially in latin, we know that it was made in memory of a child with the initials IC who had died on the 6th July (year not recorded) aged 3 years and 8 months.

Imagery such as skeletons, skulls and winged hourglasses were frequently used for such jewellery, produced as standard components in stamped and enamelled gold. Hair was also often incorporated.

The slide was a very popular type of jewel at this date. Fitted with two flat loops at the back, a ribbon of silk or woven hair would be threaded through enabling it to be worn around the neck or wrist.
Collection
Accession number
M.11-1960

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Record createdJuly 18, 2006
Record URL
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