{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1810567"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1810567/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PK7146/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PK7146/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2025PK7146","copyright":"Private Collection, Courtesy of Albion Art Jewellery Institute.","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1810567","accessionNumber":"PROV.2961-2025","objectType":"Jewellery collection","titles":[{"title":"A group of lockets, pendants and medallions","type":""}],"summaryDescription":"This group of jewels reflects the British royal family’s use of portraiture and personal jewellery to express affection. From christening tokens to mourning pendants, each piece illustrates the highly sentimental character of royal gift exchange in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.  \r\n\r\nThe earliest, a locket given by Queen Victoria to Princess Louise on her first birthday in 1868, sets a tone of familial intimacy that persists across generations. The gold oval locket bears on the front a centred monogram of V (ictoria) in turquoises and R (egina) in white enamel, bordered further with turquoise. It encloses a lock of hair covered by glass, and the inside of the back cover is inscribed ‘FROM GRANDMAMA VR 20 FEBRUARY 1868.’ \r\n\r\nThe enamelled pendant with Victoria’s portrait, presented at Princess Alexandra of Fife’s christening in 1891, reaffirms the monarch’s image as a maternal figure at the heart of the dynasty while also displaying affection towards the young princess. The gold pendant encloses a photograph of Queen Victoria, veiled and crowned, facing three-quarters towards the front. The back is inscribed ‘TO ALEXANDRA V (ICTORIA) A (LBERTA) E (DWINA) L (OUISE) DUFF FROM HER GREAT GRANDMAMA VICTORIA R (EGINA) I (MPERATRIX) JUNE 29th 1891.’  \r\n\r\nTwo jewels in the group display Queen Victoria’s public mourning. The first, a late nineteenth-century yellow gold and pearl oval memorial pendant encloses a double-sided swivel medallion. The obverse contains a photograph of Queen Victoria, wearing a widow’s cap and black dress. The reverse shows a photograph of her deceased husband, Prince Albert, inscribed around the edge ‘FROM G (REAT) GRANDMAMA VRI 1897 and G (REAT) GRANDPAPA A.’ It is set within a graduated half-pearl surround and outer scrolling wirework border, with a half-pearl suspension loop. The swivel mechanism creates intimacy and connection, inviting the wearer to touch and play with the pendant while wearing it. The second, a gold medallion has a black and white enamelled border enclosing a coloured photograph of Queen Victoria, veiled and crowned, facing in profile towards the left. The black enamelled border signals a mourning usage. These objects transformed private grief into a public yet personal symbol. The use of personal likeness combined with grief symbolism, such as the black enamel, demonstrates the ways in which mourning was visualised through jewellery. \r\n\r\nThe group includes one double-sided pendant with Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. This pendant is simple and does not show either Edward or Alexandra in their regal costume. The pendant therefore has a more familial and relaxed appearance.  \r\n\r\nThe group also includes two gold coronation medallions from 1902. One is an oval medallion with a plain rim enclosing a coloured photograph of Edward VII wearing military uniform and the Garter sash, facing three-quarters towards the left; the back is inscribed with his monogram ER VII and dated 1902. The second is a round gold medallion with a plain rim enclosing a bust-length coloured photograph of Edward VII wearing military uniform, Garter sash, stars of other Orders and medals, facing three-quarters towards the left. Together, these pieces demonstrate how the visual language of remembrance continued into the Edwardian era. Such portraits maintained the tradition of wearable commemoration while also celebrating succession and the continuation of the royal line.  \r\n\r\nTogether, these jewels display the use of pendants, lockets, and medallions. They reveal the ways in which the royal family’s most intimate keepsakes expressed familial affection. The group later belonged to Princess Arthur of Connaught, a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria, whose preservation of them underscores their unique role within the family.    \r\n\r\nPrivate Collection, Courtesy of Albion Art Jewellery Institute. \r\nThis object features in Divine Jewels, exhibited in the Jewellery Gallery from December 2025 to April 2026. Further examples from the exhibition can be found via Explore the Collections.\r\n","physicalDescription":"A group of seven jewels, all related to the British Royal family.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"turquoise","id":"AAT11164"},{"text":"pearl","id":"AAT11827"},{"text":"diamond","id":"AAT11084"},{"text":"enamel","id":"AAT14910"},{"text":"gold","id":"AAT11021"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[{"text":"Jewellery","id":"THES48930"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2025PK7146"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"91","id":"THES49703"},"free":"","case":"24","shelf":"B","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"collections","id":"AAT25976"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"england","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca.1868-1902","earliest":"1863-01-01","latest":"1902-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"27","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Diamond Jubilee locket with portraits of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"23","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Diamond Jubilee locket with portraits of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"6","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Diamond Jubilee locket with portraits of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"30","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Locket from Queen Victoria to Princess Louise on her first birthday","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"23","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Locket from Queen Victoria to Princess Louise on her first birthday","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"8","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Locket from Queen Victoria to Princess Louise on her first birthday","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"23","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Pendant with Queen Victoria’s portrait","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"20","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Pendant with Queen Victoria’s portrait","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"6","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Pendant with Queen Victoria’s portrait","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"21","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"A medallion with Queen Victoria’s portrait – a mourning jewel","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"21","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"A medallion with Queen Victoria’s portrait – a mourning jewel","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"5","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"A medallion with Queen Victoria’s portrait – a mourning jewel","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"15","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Double-sided pendant with King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"13","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Double-sided pendant with King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"6","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Double-sided pendant with King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"25","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Gold coronation medallion of King Edward VII","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"20","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Gold coronation medallion of King Edward VII","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"7","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Gold coronation medallion of King Edward VII","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"20","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Gold coronation medallion of King Edward VII","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"20","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Gold coronation medallion of King Edward VII","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"6","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Gold coronation medallion of King Edward VII","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"A group of 7 lockets, pendants and medallions, England, ca.1868-1902","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[{"text":"albion art","id":"AUTH410332"}],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"<b>A group of lockets, pendants and medallions </b>\r\nEngland, about 1868–1902 \r\nTurquoises, pearls, diamonds, enamel, gold \n\r\nThis group illustrates how members of the royal family used portraiture, inscriptions and personal mementoes as tokens of remembrance and exchange. They include: \r\nLocket from Queen Victoria to Princess Louise on her first birthday (1868) \r\nPendant with Queen Victoria’s portrait, given at Princess Alexandra of Fife’s christening (1891) \r\nDiamond Jubilee locket with portraits of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, given to Princess Alexandra (1897) \r\nA medallion with Queen Victoria’s portrait – a mourning jewel \r\nDouble-sided pendant with King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra \r\nTwo gold coronation medallions of King Edward VII (1902) \n\r\nPreviously owned by Princess Arthur of Connaught, Duchess of Fife (1891–1959), a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria \r\n","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["PROV.2961-2025"],"accessionNumberNum":"2961","accessionNumberPrefix":"PROV","accessionYear":2025,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-21","recordCreationDate":"2025-10-02","availableToBook":false}}