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Mary II Memento Mori Slide

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Mourning Jewelry106 of 115Vintage or Antique Moonstone RingOld pin with hair
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    Posted 13 years ago

    artofmourn…
    (3 items)

    A 'Stuart Crystal' slide to commemorate the death of Queen Mary II, joint sovereign of Britain from 1668 - 1694.

    Mary, the daughter of James II, was the wife of William of Orange, her first cousin. The marriage had been arranged for diplomatic reasons by Charles II yet produced no heirs. In December 1694 Mary succumbed to smallpox and died at the age of 32, on December 28th. Her husband was prostrate with grief and the nation underwent a period of long and deep mourning for the Queen. Four mournful trumpeters played a slow march leading her elaborate funeral procession to Westminster Abbey. After his death, the King was found to have kept a lock of Mary's hair and her wedding ring next to his heart.

    This commemorative slide for Mary is gold, set with a compartment of woven hair overlaid with devices of the royal crown and sceptre, two orbs and an enamelled skull and crossbones. The central gold cipher letters MR represent Mary Regina and around the edge of the slide in red and gold enamelled letters is the motto : Memento Maria Regina Obit 28 December 1694.

    The slide is covered with a densely faceted rock crystal. It measures one inch by 3/4 of an inch and is in superb condition, with coloured enamels as bright as they would have been when the slide was made in 1695.

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    Comments

    1. Bluboi Bluboi, 13 years ago
      Love the Queen Mary Stuart crystal slide! This one is amazing and so elaborate! I collect these early pieces and have one also -- it is unusual as the back of the slide is a representation of the Tudor Rose.
    2. kyratango kyratango, 10 years ago
      So complete and fresh, never seen such example, bravo!
    3. fairygrandma1 fairygrandma1, 10 years ago
      As a genealogist I have a natural love for all antiques but this one blew me away! How on earth did you come to own such a beautiful piece of history? It is abso-jolly-lutely stunning!!!
      Do you mind if I share this item on Facebook???
      fairygrandma1.
    4. artofmourning artofmourning, 10 years ago
      Thank you all for the interest! I teach mourning and sentimental jewellery though http://artofmourning.com/ (Art of Mourning) and am aligned with museums and universities globally, so a lot of jewels actually find me before I find them. I educate a lot more than I collect these days, as I'm very dedicated to having a solid reference collection between 1550 and 1920 of mourning and sentimental jewels. Please do share everywhere and anywhere (and do 'like' https://www.facebook.com/artofmourning) - I do this for the sheer love of it, rather than for any monetary requirement!

      Regards,
      Hayden

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