Mourning Pendant
ca. 1790 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
In style and materials this pendant is typical of mourning jewellery made at the end of the Eighteenth Century. The inscription on the altar: 'SAC'D WILL I KEEP THEIR DEAR REMAINS' indicates that it commemorates more than one death, and the two cherubs ascending heaven-wards, suggest that may have been made for a mother grieving for the loss of two children.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | painted ivory, gold, diamonds, enamel, pearls and hair |
Brief description | Marquise-shaped, a glazed scene of a tomb painted on ivory, framed in half-pearls and diamonds on a blue enamel ground; hair locket on reverse. Britain, late 18th century. |
Physical description | Marquise-shaped pendant. The central painted ivory depicts a woman grieving by an altar on which is an urn made of hair. Above, two winged cherubs support a crown. The scene has a frame of deep blue enamel set at intervals with diamonds, and edged with half pearls. On the reverse the gold has decoratively-engraved borders and a central panel of woven hair under glass. The pendant has a diamond-set loop and a vertical pin fastening. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions |
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Credit line | Given by the American Friends of the V&A through the generosity of Patricia V. Goldstein |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | In style and materials this pendant is typical of mourning jewellery made at the end of the Eighteenth Century. The inscription on the altar: 'SAC'D WILL I KEEP THEIR DEAR REMAINS' indicates that it commemorates more than one death, and the two cherubs ascending heaven-wards, suggest that may have been made for a mother grieving for the loss of two children. |
Other numbers |
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Collection | |
Accession number | M.20-2011 |
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Record created | June 24, 2009 |
Record URL |
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