The Darnley or Lennox Jewel
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| Virtual display at Holyrood
House, Edinburgh |
The Darnley or Lennox
Jewel was most likely made at the instigation of
Lady Lennox as a memento of her
husband Matthew Stuart - but theories do vary as to why and when the
jewel was made and by whom (in Scotland).
" Probably made
(c1571-78) for Lady Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox; Horace
Walpole (d.1797); by descent; sale of the contents of Strawberry
Hill, George Robins, 11 May 1842 (lot 60); purchased by Queen
Victoria (130 guineas)." (Royal Collection and Royal Collection
Trust sites).
"Gold, enamel (émail en
ronde bosse, émail basse-taille), Burmese rubies, Indian emerald,
cobalt-blue glass...6.6 (7.6 with pendant loop) x 5.2
cm...Heart-shaped gold locket with polychrome enamels. Large areas
of loss to the enamel on the reverse. (Royal Collection and Royal
Collection Trust sites)..."
"...The heart-shaped
locket, or ‘tablet’ in the language of the sixteenth century, was
intended to be worn around the neck or on the breast. The complex
iconography of memento mori motifs and symbols of profane and sacred
love relate to the Earl and Countess’s life together - the
salamander is the crest of the house of Douglas and the heart its
device and three fleurs-de-lis on an azure field form the first
quarter of the Lennox arms. The jewel also reveals their ambitions
for their grandson, the future James VI and I and provides him with
the series of admonitions.
Although it is not
known where the jewel was made, such high-quality workmanship was
available in Edinburgh at that time. Three Edinburgh goldsmiths are
suggested as possible candidates - George Heriot, Michael Gilbert II
and James Gray.
The jewel was formerly
in the collection of Horace Walpole (1717-97). It was purchased by
Queen Victoria at the sale of Strawberry Hill in 1842 and was listed
among her private jewellery taken ‘to the Castle’ following her
death in 1901..." (Royal Collection and Royal Collection Trust
sites).
The Holyrood House site
in Edinburgh currently says "...The
Lennox Jewel was formerly in the collection of art historian and
antiquarian Horace Walpole but was purchased by Queen Victoria in
1842. The jewel is now on display to the public at Holyrood House in
Edinburgh."
"...One of the
most fascinating exhibits at Holyrood House is the Darnley Jewel, an
enamel locket set with precious stones which Lady Margaret Douglas,
Countess of Lennox and Mary's mother-in-law made in the 1570's to
commemorate the deaths of her husband and son. Her son, Henry
Stuart, Lord Darnley was murdered in 1566, probably by James
Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, who was later to become Mary's third
husband. While her husband, Matthew Stuart, Earl of Lennox, was
killed whilst acting as regent during the minority of the couple's
grandson, King James VI and I...The Lennox Jewel, otherwise known as
the Darnley Locket, a heart shaped locket set with precious stones,
gold, enamel, Burmese rubies, Indian emerald and cobalt-blue glass
was made in 1570 for Lady Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox, the
mother of Lord Darnley to commemorate her husband Matthew Stewart,
Earl of Lennox and Regent of Scotland for his grandson James VI,
Lennox fell in battle in 1571..."
Any contributions will be
gratefully accepted
Errors and Omissions
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