Elias Gaze, Yeoman of Bath : Victorian Mourning Locket circa 1854

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🖤 Elias Gaze comes from my personal collection. A Victorian mourning piece dated 1854 in silver and gold with seed pearls and french jet.

I’ve been able to find Elias’ will and learned that he was a Yeoman of Bath. (In this example yeoman would mean ‘one who owns and cultivates a small farm’. In 1854 owning land was quite a big deal.) His private documents (which I will pass on with this brooch) are largely concerned with provision for his wife and how to take care of his livestock, he comes across as a thorough, friendly and generous fellow. At first I thought the locket was empty, but the fine silver hair is so tightly woven it looks like silk.

By the much worn appearance of this brooch one can surmise that Elias was very missed by the original owner of this memorial piece. Several of the seed pearls are replacements and the french jet has a chip or two. The hairwork remains free from dirt and dust, marvellously preserved beneath its cover. The hinge and c-clasp are in good working condition. I believe there was once a loop for a pendant or safety chain which has been lost.

It does make you wonder which of Elias’ relatives brought this little token with them all the way to Australia – when and why they might have travelled here, and how they faired so far from home.

The brooch measures 31.3mm east-west and 21.8mm north-south. It is 5mm wide not including the pin and weighs 7.2 grams.

Description

A Victorian mourning piece dated 1854 in silver and gold with seed pearls and french jet.

The brooch measures 31.3mm east-west and 21.8mm north-south. It is 5mm wide not including the pin and weighs 7.2 grams.