Hamnet-Era Mourning Jewel Rediscovered After 400 Years in Historic Portrait
A remarkable mourning jewel from the Hamnet era has been rediscovered four centuries after it was immortalised in one of Britain's most enigmatic and celebrated 17th-century family portraits. The heart-shaped pendant features prominently in Sir Thomas Aston at the Deathbed of His Wife, a 1635 life-size masterpiece painted predominantly in black and white by the Cheshire artist John Souch, which hangs in the Manchester Art Gallery.
Poignant Family Tragedy Unveiled
Sir Thomas Aston's beloved wife, Magdalen, had died in childbirth months earlier and is depicted after death, lying beside the wicker cradle of their deceased baby. Her bereaved husband, dressed in black, stands with their sole surviving child, three-year-old Thomas, who points to an inscription reading, "Grief is immeasurable." The family endured immense tragedy, as young Thomas died a year later, and their other children, Robert, Elizabeth, and Jane, also perished as youngsters.
In the painting, Aston wears the pendant, which was created to commemorate the loss of his son Robert in 1634, aged just six. Its tassel was fashioned from the child's blond hair, adding a deeply personal touch. No one had imagined that this long-lost memento mori jewel had actually survived the centuries, making its rediscovery all the more significant.
Historical Significance and Details
John Souch was an English portrait painter renowned for his meticulous rendering of details such as drapery and jewellery. Despite his precision in depicting the pendant, the full meaning, intricate details, and inscriptions could only be understood through the discovery of the actual object. Within a golden wreath, the jewel is enamelled in black and white with a death's head skull and Latin inscriptions on both sides.
Translated, the inscriptions read: "Your Robert died 4 May 1634 ... In whom was our delight, through whom was our consolation, with whom the hope of his parents first perished." These poignant words cannot be deciphered from the painting alone, highlighting the jewel's unique historical value.
Rediscovery and Emotional Impact
The pendant had remained with the Aston family until its sale in 1862. The current owners acquired it 30 years ago, long after its poignant history had faded from memory. On a chance visit to an exhibition featuring Souch's painting, they spotted their depicted jewel and realised its immense significance.
They contacted Martyn Downer, a historian and specialist dealer in historical objects and works of art, who remarked: "It's in wonderful condition, having spent most of the last 400 years unrecognised. The iconic painting has been studied by scholars over the years because it's full of symbols and metaphors. Recovering the jewel unlocks some of the questions about the painting."
Downer drew parallels to Shakespeare's loss of his son Hamnet in 1586, a tragedy that inspired recent Oscar-winning films, noting: "At its heart is a man mourning the loss of his first son. We're all familiar now with the story of Hamnet. This is a few years later, and it's very touching. Although it's quite a small object, it packs a lot of emotion into it."
Value and Rarity
The pendant has been valued at £650,000, reflecting its exceptional rarity, as jewellery from the 17th century is extremely scarce. Downer, a former head of jewellery at Sotheby's London, emphasised: "There's a great deal of interest in memento mori jewellery because it's loaded with feeling. This is not a jewel to display wealth or status. It's highly personal."
Sir Thomas Aston himself met a tragic end. A courtier, theologian, soldier, and poet, he was knighted by King Charles I and fought for the royalist cause in the civil war. Captured by parliamentarian forces in Staffordshire, he died from wounds received while attempting to escape at the age of 44.
Future Prospects and Exhibition
Fiona Corridan of Manchester Art Gallery expressed excitement: "It's incredibly exciting to learn that the mourning pendant depicted in the painting exists and that it reflects the inscriptions in the painting. This intricate, beautiful piece is steeped in history, carrying a unique story of grief, love, and memory across centuries. It would be wonderful to find out more and perhaps reunite the pendant with the painting."
Martyn Downer will unveil the pendant to the public at the Treasure House Fair at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, which runs from 24 to 30 June, offering a rare glimpse into this poignant historical artefact.
