Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu

A mid Victorian banded agate and diamond set memorial pendant, 1860s, the pendant centred with a cabochon banded agate, collet set within a border of silver and gold mounted old-cut diamonds, suspending three diamond set drops below, the reverse with glazed locket compartment, enclosing a lock of blond hair, and inscribed to the border: ‘Vere Fane died 18th Jan 1863 aged 78’ and ‘Eliz.th Fane died 5th June 1865 aged 80’, the pendant suspended from a diamond set bale, together with an unassociated graduated banded agate bead necklace, to plain barrel clasp stamped ‘9c’, contained in semi-fitted case by R & S Garrard & Co, pendant length (including bale) 6.3cm, necklace length 41cm. £2200-3000

Vere Fane (1785-1863) was the fourth son of the Hon. Henry Fane, the 8th Earl of Westmorland, of Fulbeck Hall near Grantham, Lincs, and Anne, daughter of Edward Buckley Batson. He was elected MP for Lyme Regis between 1818-1826, and Mayor of the town between 1830-31. He moved into banking, becoming a partner in Praeds & Company of 189 Fleet Street, London from 1817 until his death.

In 1815, he married Elizabeth Chaplin, (1785-1865) daughter of Charles Chaplin, of Blankney House, Lincolnshire, in 1815. In 1856, the Fane family property, Little Ponton Hall, in Lincolnshire, came under Vere Fane’s guardianship until his death in 1863, when the property was sold. At the time of his death, his wealth was listed as being £20,000.