Hamnet-era mourning jewel from celebrated painting rediscovered after 400 years
Summary
A 400-year-old heart-shaped mourning pendant, first seen in a 1635 painting by John Souch, has been rediscovered. The jewel, made to remember a lost child, was hidden in a private collection until recognized at an exhibition showing the original painting.Key Facts
- The pendant appears in the painting "Sir Thomas Aston at the Deathbed of His Wife" (1635).
- It was created to remember Robert, a child who died at age six in 1634.
- The pendant includes a skull image and Latin inscriptions about Robert’s death.
- The pendant’s tassel is made from the child’s blond hair.
- The jewel stayed with the Aston family until sold in 1862 and was bought by current owners 30 years ago.
- The owners only realized the jewel’s significance when they saw the painting at an exhibit.
- It is valued at about £650,000 due to its rarity and historical importance.
- The painting and pendant show the family’s deep mourning, connected to other family losses and historical events.
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