Necklace and brooch, gold set with moonstones and rubies, and box, the jewellery c. 1830, probably made in England but owned in India since 1830.

Necklace, gold set with moonstones; brooch, gold set with moonstones and rubies; and box. A handwritten note dated 1910 is pinned to the inside of the box recording ownership of the moonstones by members of the Prendergast family back to 1830.

Given by Charmian Gladstone in memory of Maud Prendergast MBE and General Sir Harry Prendergast VC GCB

The necklace and brooch are relatively early surviving examples of jewellery worn by British women resident in India during the 19th century.

A handwritten note dated 1910 and pinned to the inside of the box records that the moonstones belonged to Dorothea Prendergast in 1830. They were given to her to Dora E.L. Prendergast in 1860 and to Maud Dora J. Prendergast in 1910. Miss Maud Dora Josephine Prendergast (1876-1948) was the youngest daughter of General Sir Harry Prendergast VC GCB (1834-1913).

Dorothea Charlotte Warrender Prendergast was born in 1808 in Madras and died in the U.K. in 1862. She was the daughter of General Sir Jeffrey Prendergast (1769-1856) and Elizabeth Dalrymple (1778-1863).

The jewellery is likely to have been made in Europe, probably England, around 1830. The box was probably made later.

IS.1-2020