Gold, pearls, blue sapphires; engraved ivory
Monogrammed “B”
This intimate pendant takes the form of a crowned heart, a potent emblem in early modern European devotional and sentimental jewelry. The heart, long associated with the soul, fidelity, and pious devotion, is here surmounted by a crown, signifying sovereignty—either divine authority or an earthly allegiance elevated to sacred status. At the center, an engraved monogram “B” is further emphasized by a miniature crown, transforming the letter into a symbol of dominion over the heart. Such personalization suggests a private dedication: to a beloved individual, a dynastic house, or a religious figure, rather than a purely romantic token. Monogrammed heart jewels of this type were often worn discreetly, close to the body, functioning as talismans of loyalty, remembrance, or prayer.
The border of seed pearls and blue stones reinforces the pendant’s meaning. Pearls, traditionally associated with purity, tears, and mourning, appear frequently in devotional and memorial jewelry, while blue stones—whether sapphire or paste—evoke constancy, heaven, and spiritual truth. Together, they situate the object within a visual language of enduring faith and fidelity. Combining personal inscription with universal symbolism, this pendant exemplifies the late 18th-century impulse to unite private emotion, religious devotion, and heraldic authority in a single, wearable form. It was not intended as ornament alone, but as a deeply meaningful object—an expression of allegiance carried close to the heart.
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