Update Our ticketing, donations, and membership sales portal is down for scheduled maintenance on the afternoon of 4/11.
This choker-style necklace is composed of an octagonal clasp containing a miniature painted on ivory under glass. The miniature depicts a woman in a landscape holding a book and pointing to the sky. It was most likely one of a pair of bracelet clasps in the late eighteenth century but only one survived. It was re-set on a velvet ribbon for use as a necklace, possibly in the late nineteenth century when chokers were popular.
necklaces
miniatures (paintings)
gold (metal)
ivory (tooth component)
velvet (fabric weave)
Neoclassical
mourning
Necklace
178
Unknown
1 3/16 x 3/4 x 3/16 (HxWxD) (inches)
Estate of Mrs. Jane N. Grew
1920.511
For more information on miniatures in jewelry see Fales, Martha Gandy, "Jewelry in America, 1600-1900," (1995):83-97.
1790-1810 (Date of clasp. Velvet ribbon added later.)
Title Choker with miniature clasp Accession Number 1920.511
Title Tortoiseshell back comb Accession Number 1920.525
Title Tortoiseshell back comb Accession Number 1920.526
Title Horn back comb Accession Number 1920.527
Title Horn back comb Accession Number 1920.528
Title Dyed horn back comb Accession Number 1920.529
Title Tortoiseshell back comb Accession Number 1920.530
Title Tortoiseshell side comb Accession Number 1920.531
Title Horn side comb Accession Number 1920.534
Title Tortoiseshell side comb Accession Number 1920.535
Title Tortoiseshell back comb Accession Number 1920.536
Title Tortoiseshell back comb Accession Number 1920.538
Title Horn side comb Accession Number 1920.539
Title Gilt metal side comb Accession Number 1920.540
Title Hair bracelet Accession Number 1920.544
Title Hair bracelet Accession Number 1920.545
Title Hair bracelet Accession Number 1920.546
Title Artificial bone ring Accession Number 1920.555
Title Brooch Accession Number 1920.557
Title Brooch Accession Number 1920.558
Title Brooch Accession Number 1920.559
Title Ivory bracelet Accession Number 1920.617
Title Lorgnette in case Accession Number 1920.624
Title Folding locket with photos Accession Number 1920.626
Title Buckle Accession Number 1920.785
Historic New England is committed to implementing reparative language description for existing collections and creating respectful and inclusive language description for new collections. If you encounter language in Historic England's Collections Access Portal that is harmful or offensive, or you find materials that would benefit from a content warning, please contact [email protected].
Sign up to our newsletter for our latest news and events
