λ Circle of John Miers (1756-1821), a superb ivory mourning locket pendant, late 18th century, of

λ Circle of John Miers (1756-1821), a superb ivory mourning locket pendant, late 18th century, of oval outline, set with a section of ivory painted in sepia and accented with hairwork, gold wire and seed pearls, depicting a grieving mother witnessing two of her children's souls breaking free from its memorial, guided towards heaven by angels, mounted in gold with a white enamel border, the reverse with a lock of hair and marked twice with the initial K beneath a viscount's coronet, also appearing on the child's memorial, length 9cm including suspension hoop, original red leather case with maker's stamp for Miers 'Profile Painter and Jeweller, No.111 Strand, Miniatures Set and Framed, Hair-work &c executed peculiarly Neat'

A handwritten label on the case reading 'Sophia d of 7th Earl by 1st wife, died as child' identifies the subject as Lady Sophia Augusta Lambart (1787-1798), daughter of the 7th Earl of Cavan and his first wife Honora. However, the inclusion of the two monograms of K beneath a viscount's coronet could possibly instead refer to Sophia's two brothers, both named Richard (1883-85 and 1788-88 respectively) who also died in infancy, each in turn holding the Earl's courtesy title, Viscount Kilcoursie.