A Charles I Silver Heart Shaped Royalist Locket. 
english, Circa. 1648.

A Charles I silver heart shaped royalist locket.


English, circa. 1648.

Measures 2.5 x 1.9 x 0.6cm.

Weighs 5.6 grams.

The locket in the form of a heart is engraved to one side with a heart pierced by two arrows and the words ‘I live and dy in loyaltye’. The other side is engraved with a single crying eye and the latin words ‘Quis temperit A lacrymis’ (meaning ‘Who can refrain from tears’) and ‘January 30 1648’ (the day of Charles I execution). The covering side pulls off to reveal a naive portrait of the Martyred King.

Following the execution of Charles I in 1649 jewels with royal portraits were made to show support for the Stuart Kings. The objects ranged from modest ornaments like this one to gold jewels as well as reliquaries that contained fragments of material soaked in the blood of the executed King.

Similar examples:

https://collections.museumoflondon.org.uk/online/object/118965.html

https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O116232/locket-unknown/

https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O77746/locket-unknown/?carousel-image=2006BJ4177