Locket
ca. 1670 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This locket is decorated with some unusual symbols for love. On each side of the central roundel is a pair of enamelled gold ‘figure of eight’ or true lovers’ knots. They are so called because the knot or bond tightens as the ends are pulled apart. A further reference to being enslaved by love is the S with a diagonal bar through it (again worked in enamelled gold). This motif is known as an ‘esclavos’ - a pun combining S with clavo, the Spanish word for ‘nail’, to make the word for ‘slave’.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Gold and painted enamel, with table-cut diamonds |
| Brief description | Locket of gold, enamelled in blue and white with black detailing, set with diamonds, made in France or Spain, about 1670 |
| Physical description | Locket of gold, enamelled in blue and white with black detailing, set with diamonds and hung with seven pendants. At the top, a triangle (symbol of the Trinity), a true lover's knot (symbol of a lifelong bond) and esclavos (a symbol of devotion, combining the letter S wiht a bar or clavo, Spanish for nail, forming the word for slave). Formerly in the Treasury of the Cathedral of the Virgin of the Pillar, Saragossa |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | From the Treasury of the Cathedral of the Virgin of the Pillar, Zaragoza. One of a group of jewels purchased by the Museum in 1870, when the Cathedral authorities sold off treasures presented to the shrine of the Virgin in order to complete their building programme. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This locket is decorated with some unusual symbols for love. On each side of the central roundel is a pair of enamelled gold ‘figure of eight’ or true lovers’ knots. They are so called because the knot or bond tightens as the ends are pulled apart. A further reference to being enslaved by love is the S with a diagonal bar through it (again worked in enamelled gold). This motif is known as an ‘esclavos’ - a pun combining S with clavo, the Spanish word for ‘nail’, to make the word for ‘slave’. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 326-1870 |
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| Record created | January 8, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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