Amatory pendant

A heart shaped gold pendant overlain in translucent red enamel with integral suspension loop attached to a small gold jump-ring. There is a small apperture at the base into which a tuft of light-brown hair has been inserted. The hair was traditionally believed to be taken from the head of Charles I. This pendant was bequeathed to the Museum with a circumstantial account of its history: 'Ruby (enamel?) earring, circa 1640, heart-shaped with a lock of Charles I's hair ... given by Queen Henrietta Maria to her page Ralph Creyke and preserved ever since in the Creyke family. An ear pendant of this type is depicted in the portrait of Anne Wortley, Lady Morton by Paul van Somer in the Tate Gallery (circa 1620, no T.3033) and at Ham House there is a similar earring with the hair of the Earl of Essex.