Pendant with a serpent coiled around a tree and two skull cameos

late 16th cent.

English

With typescript and manuscript note: ‘PENDANT REPUTED TO HAVE BEEN OWNED/BY MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS. Inherited, according to family tradition, with other Stuart relic through Frances, daughter of Hon. William Erskine son of the 3rd Lord Cardross, who married 1748 James Loch of Drylaw - her daughter Margaret married 1769 James Loch of Halshaw. In 1802 John Buchanan of Carbeth married, Margaret daughter of James Loch. His son, John Buchanan of Carbeth had, inter alia, a daughter Henrietta Charlotte, who married 1872 John Stirling, Stirling of Gargunnock, grandfather of the present owner. W. Stirling 18-10/77; Miss W. Stirling; by whom presented to Her Majesty The Queen, 1977.’

Double-sided, openwork pendant in gold and enamel.

Obverse: a tree on a platform in the centre with a naked female torso in white enamel sitting in the canopy. A serpent in green, yellow and black enamel is coiled around the tree. Four table-cut rubies and a long rectangular-cut emerald in box settings are at the base of the tree. Two enamel bands bearing the inscriptions A qui and IDISE (?) connect the lower stone. Opaque white and light-blue, translucent green and blue enamel scrollwork and foliage surround the central scene and are set with two miniature onyx cameos depicting skulls. The emerald is flanked by pearls with blue enamel petal-like settings. ...