Wigs on the Green has dated this piece to the 19th Century.
Gold and enamel mourning rings were commissioned but these were expensive and very limited. More accessible were the naively painted pendants that were produced as mourning tokens and typically showed a young sailor boy or a maiden, thought to represent Nelson’s great love Emma Hamilton, grieving by a grave.
These two charming miniatures are typical examples of Nelson memorabilia. They are naively painted but are nonetheless evocative of the mood.
The female version has light scratches and, when viewed through a glass, small spots of paint loss to the urn and background areas. It is housed in a gilt-metal pendant frame. The reverse of the frame has been dinged but has no major damage.
The male version is cracked and the inscription has probably been enhanced. It is set in a gilt-metal mount backed with card and lacks a hanging ring.
Framed Size: 41 x 39mm ; 42 x 33mm
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Wigs on the Green has dated this piece to the 19th Century.
Small portraiture of character & historical interest
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Nelson Memorial Miniatures
