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1 of 253523 objects
Bracelet 1840-57
Gold, enamel, hair | 11.0 x 2.0 cm (whole object) | RCIN 65293
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Gold chain bracelet with nine enamelled heart shaped lockets of different colours; containing the hair of Queen Victoria's children. This simple chain and locket bracelet is typical of the sentimental items Prince Albert gave to the Queen. The inscription on the clasp states that it was given to her three days after the birth of their first child, Victoria, The Princess Royal. A locket was added for each subsequent birth, each one containing a lock of the child's hair and inscribed with the name and date of birth. Text from Victoria & Albert: Art & Love. The hearts record the birth of the children as follows: pink for Princess Victoria, turquoise blue for Albert, red for Princess Alice, dark blue for Alfred, translucent white for Helena, dark green for Louise, mid blue for Arthur, opaque white for Leopold and light green for Beatrice.
Provenance
Given to Queen Victoria by Prince Albert, 24 November 1840
Lilac enamel locket contatining the hair of Prince Arthur, attached to bracelet 1st May 1850.
White enamel locket containing the hair of Prince Leopold, attached to bracelet 7th April 1853
Green enamel locket containing the hair of Princess Beatrice, attached to bracelet 24th May 1857
[Victoria & Albert: Art & Love, London, 2010, pg 456-9]
This was one of a group of jewels placed in the ‘Albert Room’ at Windsor Castle after the Queen's death in 1901. This was the room in which Prince Albert had died in 1861 and the Queen left instructions for a specific list of personal jewellery to be placed there and not passed on in the family. -
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