DATE: 

Cool and somewhat unusual Victorian seal fob with a bit of tangible history. The hinged body allows it to open revealing a tiny locket compartment inside. There are two dedications, "Sarah Bates, died 8th May 1852 aged 72" and "Ralph Bates, died 6th June 1853 aged 53". The locket compartment contains woven hair from two people, the aforementioned Sarah and Ralph who were mother and son. The Bates were a well known and respected family from the north east of England, the husband/father, also Ralph (1764-1813) was High Sheriff of Northumberland in 1812 and later Deputy Lieutenant, who commissioned architect John Patterson to build the unusual Milbourne Hall in 1810 - featuring an octagonal courtyard and rotunda salon - it's currently listed for sale at a cool £3,95 million, FYI. The base is home to an intaglio carved bloodstone panel with the Bates family crest and motto: "Et Manu Et Corde", or, hand and heart.

STONES 

Bloodstones

MEASUREMENTS 

Height: 2.7cm

Base: 1.6 x 1.4cm

WEIGHT 

8.2g

MARKS 

No marks present, tests as 15k gold

CONDITION 

Very good