The Christopher Foley, F.S.A., Collection Of Early English Medals - 16th October 2014
Lot 338
Charles I
Estimate £2,200 - £2,600
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Description
Charles I, silver memorial locket, the top with hinged lid, engraved with two arrows piercing a heart, opening to reveal the small left-facing Thomas Rawlins portrait of Charles I; the base engraved "Quis tempery / a Lacluimis / Janit 30 / 1648", within a decorative border, above arrows piercing heart, the openwork suspender may have been made to be resemble a skull, 44.5 x 21mm (cf MI 366/249; Platt p. 294, type E). Very fine and extremely rare.
"Quis tempery / a Lacluimis" is taken from the opening lines of Virgil's Aeneid II:- quis (talia fando Myrmidonum Dolopumue aut duri miles Vlixi) temperet a lacrimis; (Who, even the Myrmidons or the tough soldier Ulysses, could refrain from tears when such things are sung ?". It is a legend is found on other Royalist pieces - cf MI 343/193 and 366/249. A heart-shaped locket sold at Baldwin Auction 69, 5 May, 2011 (lot 4) had the legend "Quis Temperat a Lacrymis…".
Provenance: Bt D. Fearon, January, 2013.