{"product_id":"late-georgian-15k-gold-vernon-family-memorial-hair-locket-c-1837","title":"Georgian 'Baron Vernon' Locket","description":"\u003cdiv\u003eAn exceptional \u003cstrong\u003elate Georgian gold memorial locket\u003c\/strong\u003e, made circa 1837 for members of the aristocratic Vernon family of Sudbury Hall, Derbyshire.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eAt 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.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eOne side is engraved:\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“George Charles Lord Vernon, Died 18 Nov 1835, Aged 55\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Lady Warren Vernon, Died 17 Sep 1837, Aged 53”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eOpposite, 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.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThe inscriptions identify \u003cstrong\u003eGeorge Charles Venables-Vernon, 4th Baron Vernon\u003c\/strong\u003e, and his wife \u003cstrong\u003eFrances Maria Warren, Lady Vernon\u003c\/strong\u003e, daughter of the distinguished naval officer Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren. The couple belonged to the Vernon family of \u003cstrong\u003eSudbury Hall\u003c\/strong\u003e, one of England’s important Restoration country houses and today cared for by the National Trust.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThe locket was commissioned shortly after Lady Vernon’s death in 1837, likely for their only child; their son and heir, \u003cstrong\u003eGeorge John Venables-Vernon, 5th Baron Vernon\u003c\/strong\u003e, who succeeded his father in 1835 and later became an important scholar and collector devoted to Dante, spending considerable periods in Florence.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003ePerhaps 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.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eA rare piece of \u003cstrong\u003eBritish aristocratic mourning jewellery\u003c\/strong\u003e, combining identifiable provenance, original hairwork and unusually intimate evidence of use.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDetails:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eEngland, circa 1837\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e15K gold\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eEngine-turned decoration\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eOriginal glass and hairwork\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eApproximately 23 x 20mm\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eExcellent antique condition, with characteristic smoothing to the exterior from historic handling\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Ravensbury Antiques","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49319463584052,"sku":"1017810364","price":2764.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0708\/6784\/5428\/files\/raven254.jpg?v=1791232072","url":"https:\/\/ravensburyantiques.com\/en-it\/products\/late-georgian-15k-gold-vernon-family-memorial-hair-locket-c-1837","provider":"Ravensbury Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}