Sensational Suffragette Victorian 4 Picture Enamel Diamond 15-18K Gold Book Lock
We have a real treat for you! A truly exquisite and rare, four picture book locket, what a stunning, stunning jewel! Not only rare and gorgeous, but it also comes with amazing history !
The owner of the locket, Annette Eliza Bear, nee Williams, was born on 24 November 1832 and baptised on 25 December in St Mary's Church, Newington, Surrey, England. She passed away in 1922. Her parents were Leonardo Williams of Prince's Square, Kensington, Middlesex, England, and Ann Bridle. It is interesting, that Kensington was a district of Middlesex then, and is now in the very centre of London!
Anette Eliza married John Pinney Bear on 6th of March 1851 in Melbourne, Australia, in the Province of Victoria. She was 18 years of age. They had nine children. Their first born, baby John Frederick Bear, born on 24th of December 1851, sadly died on 19th of Apr 1852. The surviving eight children were : Annette Ellen Bear (Crawford) born on 27th February 1853(-1899), John Williams Bear (1854-1914), Florence Emily Bear (Roberts) (1855-1890), Constance Blanche Bear (1858-1933), Edith Isabel Bear (1861-1940), Stanley Ernest Bear (1865-1870), Beatrice Ethelind Bear (1868-1949) and Evelin Mary Bear ( Addison), born in 1870. The picture locket is inscribed with "Annette E. Bear. 6th.of March 1863". This date happens to be a 12th anniversary of Annette Eliza and John Pinney's wedding, which took place on 6th of March 1851. The four overpainted photos in the locket show five children. Looking at the dates of their birth, those are the five of their surviving children who were born to date, and their ages corresponding to the approximate ages of the children in the photographs. The only child not shown is baby John Frederick, who passed in 1852. The locket bears black enamel decoration and quite likely, this is in memory of John. From left to right we have photos of John William aged nine, Constance Blanche aged five with Edith Isabel aged two, then Florence Emily aged eight and the eldest daughter, Annette Ellen, aged ten. This locket is such a tribute to a mother of her six children, even the rose cut diamonds on each side of the locket come in six. So beautiful and full of sentiment.
One of the girls in the pictures, Annette Ellen Bear made suffragette history and helped change the world. She was one of the leading figures of the suffrage movement and an activist for women and children in Victorian Australia. Bears were a wealthy and progressive English immigrant family to Australia. They afforded their daughters prestigious education in England, where Annette got introduced to the suffrage movement. She spent time in France and Germany and trained in social work in London's slums and New London Hospital. She was involved in women's movement and Women's Liberal Federation party. On her return to Australia in 1890 she became a leading member Woman's Christian Temperance Union and established Victorian Women's Suffrage League. In 1891, the women's suffrage groups in Victoria completed a petition to the government for votes for women, collecting 33 thousand signatures, among them Annette's. Unfortunately the petition was refused and Anette did not see the result of her hard work and dedication, as the women in Australia were not allowed to vote until 1908. She was involved in vast society altering projects; educating women for public work, standing for election on committees, obtaining new legislation to raise the age of consent for women to 16, and establishing Victoria Hospital for the care of women and children, among others. She was also one of the first members of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children and the Victorian Vigilance Society.
In her private life, at 41- outrageously late for Victorian standards - she married William Crawford, a solicitor who was her junior by 9 years, they did not have children. Annette died five years later, on 7th of June 1899 in England, aged 46, where she travelled to attend the Women's International Conference. We are thrilled to have found this fascinating information about Annette and her family! And, such an exquisite object belonging to Annettes mother!
The locket is of superb quality, fitting the wealth and status of the Bear family. It is beautifully made in rich, buttery yellow gold with a fabulous patina and wonderful detail. It is not hallmarked, electronic testing reveals it is 15-18 karat gold. As the locket opens there is seen some natural shading of the patina, where the locket was closed and open to air. We would not dream of course of polishing it off, this is part of the history and charm of the piece.
While closed, the book part of the locket measures 24.8 mm top to bottom, 22.4 mm side to side, 11.33 mm in depth of the book itself and 14.25 in depth with the diamond ornaments. The total length of the locket with the bale is 33.2 mm. When the locket is opened up fully, it stretches to 12 cm in length, including the woven belt. The photos of the children have been overpainted, with such stunning quality detail, that it is hard to distinguish them from miniature paintings. The locket weighs 18.2 grams and is in fabulous antique condition.
We are in love .... with this amazing Victorian jewel, its splendid quality, the truly outstanding beauty and the rich, important history. Australia, here she comes !
* Please kindly note that other jewellery in our photos is for your inspiration and not included in this listing *
A-527
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