Georgian 'Baron Vernon' Locket
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An exceptional late Georgian gold memorial locket, made circa 1837 for members of the aristocratic Vernon family of Sudbury Hall, Derbyshire.At first glance the locket is remarkably restrained: a rectangular 15K gold case decorated on both sides with finely engine-turned geometric engraving. Open the hinged cover, however, and it reveals an extraordinarily personal memorial.One side is engraved:“George Charles Lord Vernon, Died 18 Nov 1835, Aged 55Lady Warren Vernon, Died 17 Sep 1837, Aged 53”Opposite, beneath its original glass, are two carefully arranged locks of hair - one pale and one dark - bound with fine gold wire and preserved side by side.The inscriptions identify George Charles Venables-Vernon, 4th Baron Vernon, and his wife Frances Maria Warren, Lady Vernon, daughter of the distinguished naval officer Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren. The couple belonged to the Vernon family of Sudbury Hall, one of England’s important Restoration country houses and today cared for by the National Trust.The locket was commissioned shortly after Lady Vernon’s death in 1837, likely for their only child; their son and heir, George John Venables-Vernon, 5th Baron Vernon, who succeeded his father in 1835 and later became an important scholar and collector devoted to Dante, spending considerable periods in Florence.Perhaps the most affecting detail is the wear to the exterior. Although the engine-turned decoration survives crisply around the edges, the centre of both sides has been gently worn smooth through generations of handling - exactly where the pendant would naturally have been rubbed between finger and thumb. It gives tangible evidence that this was not simply stored as an heirloom, but repeatedly held and rubbed with affection.The exterior decoration was produced using a turning engine, an increasingly sophisticated form of mechanised engraving capable of cutting perfectly repetitive patterns into gold. Similar techniques later became closely associated with guilloché enamel and the great luxury workshops of the 19th century.A rare piece of British aristocratic mourning jewellery, combining identifiable provenance, original hairwork and unusually intimate evidence of use.Details:England, circa 183715K goldEngine-turned decorationOriginal glass and hairworkApproximately 23 x 20mmExcellent antique condition, with characteristic smoothing to the exterior from historic handling
An exceptional late Georgian gold memorial locket, made circa 1837 for members of the aristocratic Vernon family of Sudbury Hall, Derbyshire.
At first glance the locket is remarkably restrained: a rectangular 15K gold case decorated on both sides with finely engine-turned geometric engraving. Open the hinged cover, however, and it reveals an extraordinarily personal memorial.
One side is engraved:
“George Charles Lord Vernon, Died 18 Nov 1835, Aged 55
Lady Warren Vernon, Died 17 Sep 1837, Aged 53”
Opposite, beneath its original glass, are two carefully arranged locks of hair - one pale and one dark - bound with fine gold wire and preserved side by side.
The inscriptions identify George Charles Venables-Vernon, 4th Baron Vernon, and his wife Frances Maria Warren, Lady Vernon, daughter of the distinguished naval officer Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren. The couple belonged to the Vernon family of Sudbury Hall, one of England’s important Restoration country houses and today cared for by the National Trust.
The locket was commissioned shortly after Lady Vernon’s death in 1837, likely for their only child; their son and heir, George John Venables-Vernon, 5th Baron Vernon, who succeeded his father in 1835 and later became an important scholar and collector devoted to Dante, spending considerable periods in Florence.
Perhaps the most affecting detail is the wear to the exterior. Although the engine-turned decoration survives crisply around the edges, the centre of both sides has been gently worn smooth through generations of handling - exactly where the pendant would naturally have been rubbed between finger and thumb. It gives tangible evidence that this was not simply stored as an heirloom, but repeatedly held and rubbed with affection.
The exterior decoration was produced using a turning engine, an increasingly sophisticated form of mechanised engraving capable of cutting perfectly repetitive patterns into gold. Similar techniques later became closely associated with guilloché enamel and the great luxury workshops of the 19th century.
A rare piece of British aristocratic mourning jewellery, combining identifiable provenance, original hairwork and unusually intimate evidence of use.
Details:
England, circa 1837
15K gold
Engine-turned decoration
Original glass and hairwork
Approximately 23 x 20mm
Excellent antique condition, with characteristic smoothing to the exterior from historic handling
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