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Locket - The Heneage Jewel; The Armada Jewel

The Heneage Jewel; The Armada Jewel

  • Object:

    Locket

  • Place of origin:

    England (made)

  • Date:

    ca. 1595 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Hilliard, Nicholas (painter)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Enamelled gold, table-cut diamonds, Burmese rubies, rock crystal and a miniature

  • Credit Line:

    Given by the Rt. Hon. Viscount Wakefield CBE, through The Art Fund

  • Museum number:

    M.81-1935

  • Gallery location:

    Jewellery, room 91, case 52, shelf B, box 3

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This locket encloses a miniature of Elizabeth I (1558-1603). According to tradition, the jewel was given by the queen to Sir Thomas Heneage. He was a Privy Counsellor and Vice-Chamberlain of the Royal Household. The jewel remained in the possession of the Heneage family until 1902. It has sometimes been called the Armada Jewel. However, it was probably made in about 1595, some years after the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588.
The reverse shows a ship holding steady on a stormy sea. It symbolises the Protestant church steered by Elizabeth through religious turmoil.

Physical description

Enamelled gold, set with table-cut diamonds and Burmese rubies. Obverse, a bust in gold under rock crystal of Elizabeth I, apparently a version of the Garter Badge of about 1585, surrounded by inscription. Inside, a miniature of the Queen by Nicholas Hilliard. The hinged back of the locket is enamelled outside with the Ark of the English Church on a stormy sea and an inscription. The back of the locket is enamelled inside with a Tudor rose encircled by leaves and an inscription.

Place of Origin

England

Date

ca. 1595 (made)

Artist/maker

Hilliard, Nicholas

Materials and Techniques

Enamelled gold, table-cut diamonds, Burmese rubies, rock crystal and a miniature

Marks and inscriptions

"'ELIZABETHA D.G. ANG. FRA. ET. HIB. REGINA'" Elizabeth, by the grace of God Queen of England, France and Ireland) Obverse
"'SAEVAS. TRANQUILLA. PER. VNDAS'" peaceful through the fierce waves back of locket (outside)
"'Hei mihi quod tanto virtus perfusa decore non habet eternos inviolata dies'" Alas, that so much virtue suffused with beauty should not last for ever inviolate back of locket (inside)

Dimensions

Height: 7 cm
Width: 5.1 cm

Object history note

According to tradition, the jewel was given by Elizabeth I to Sir Thomas Heneage (died 1595), a Privy Counsellor and Vice-Chamberlain of the Royal Household. The jewel remained in the possession of the Heneage family until 1902.

Historical context note

The inscription 'Hei mihi quod ...' appears on the reverse of the Phoenix medal of 1574.
The inscription 'SAEVAS. TRANQUILA ...' is an allusion to the Queen's function as Defender of the Faith

Descriptive line

The Heneage or Armada Jewel, English, about 1595

Attribution Note

Hilliard was the painter of the miniature which is enclosed within the jewel.

Materials

Silver; Gold; Diamond; Ruby; Quartz crystal

Subjects depicted

Tudor roses; Elizabeth (I, Queen of England); Ark

Categories

Jewellery

Collection code

MET

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Qr_O33883
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