Antique Gold Locket Pendant with Pearls & Enamel, c. 1880

The Order of the Garter, founded by King Edward III of England in 1348, is the most exclusive order in the United Kingdom. The recipients of the Order are the monarch, the Prince of Wales and a maximum of 24 other living knights appointed by the monarch. The Order of the Garter was founded by King Edward III of England on January 19, 1348. The order was modeled on King Arthur's legendary Round Table and Edward sought to use it to bind the kingdom's most important knights more firmly to himself. The English name of the Order of the Garter is Most Noble Order of the Garter, whereby "garter" actually refers to a garter or knee band. The origin of the name is not clear. According to the most gallant legend, it owes its name to an incident at a dance between the king and his mistress Catherine Grandison, Countess of Salisbury. She suddenly lost her blue garter. The king relieved the embarrassing situation by picking up the garter and tying it to his own leg. As he did so, he is said to have exclaimed loudly: "Honi soit qui mal y pense", "A rogue who thinks evil of it", the motto of the future order. According to another story, after the unfortunate countess's mishap, the king is said to have stood in front of her, shielding her with his cloak spread out as she refastened her waistband, while, turning to the court, he is said to have uttered the well-known saying: "Evil to him who thinks evil!". On the one hand, this was a sign of his chivalrous attitude and the resulting duty to protect people in distress. On the other hand, it would have been an expression of the courtoisie with which a troubadour used to adore beautiful women without sexual desire... Which of these versions is true is lost in the darkness of history. What has been rescued from the darkness of history, however, is this locket, which shows the proverbial waistband on its front. Shimmering pearls cover the band, while two delicate lines of matching blue enamel mark the sides. The locket itself shimmers softly in a velvety layer of fine gold on a core of slightly reddish gold. Inside, the pendant offers space for two photos, locks of hair or small letters. In 19th century British jewellery, the Order of the Garter is a recurring motif that was intended to express noble sentiments and virtuous intentions. It is very likely that this locket was also created in Great Britain; we date it to around 1880 and discovered it in London.

Estimation:€1,790

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