Gold Mourning Locket Given by Queen Victoria to Her Housekeeper

Here we have a unique opportunity to own a genuine piece of British Royal history in the form of a Gold cased mourning locket set with banded agate in a beaded mount and beaded hanging loop, to the reverse is a glazed section housing a sepia side profile head and shoulders photograph of John Brown, the mount is engraved with the monogram 'JB' and 'In recollection of 27th March 1883 from V.R.I' The locket is 9ct unmarked but tested Gold and is housed in it's original presentation case from Collingwood & Co. Goldsmiths and Jewellers to the Royal Family.

The date relates to John Brown's date of death which was March 27th 1887.

This locket was given to Elizabeth Smith who was employed by the Royal household from May 21st 1856 initially at the Royal Lodge, Windsor, as a cook and housekeeper and then as housekeeper at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight from 1858 until her retirement in 1887.

The locket was purchased from a direct descendant of Elizabeth Smith who inherited it from her mother who was the great-niece of Elizabeth Smith, the bundle of paperwork includes a Victorian sepia photograph of Queen Victorian on horseback with John Brown at the reins, a letter from the Royal Archives at Windsor Castle confirming that Elizabeth Smith's positions in the Royal household and also an account book shows payment to Collingwoods for presents in memory of John Brown, two photocopies of newspaper clippings, photocopies of photographs of Elizabeth Smith, and a photocopy of a family letter from 1966 mentioning 'the pendant which Queen Victorian gave my great aunt' 

All this cast iron provenance makes this item a must for any collector of Royal antiques or antiques relating to Queen Victoria.

Free recorded postage and packaging is included in the price of this item.

We are more than happy to ship items abroad and ask you to contact us prior to purchasing to obtain a quote which will include professional packaging of your item, we will endeavour to ship your item as economically as possible, within the UK items will be posted using the Royal Mail and carry a tracking number.