A historically important Victorian silver cross dedicated to the memory of Prince Albert, circa 1862

Naturalistic split log style cross with textured bark detail, centred by a pearl with a surrounding crown of thorns which lifts to reveal a photograph of Prince Albert, the underside of the lid engraved with a scrolled “A”

Inscribed to the reverse “Dein Wille geschehe!”, with a hinged compartment below inscribed “Rosenau 26 August 1819. Windsor Castle 14 Debr.1861” , lifting to reveal a lock of Prince Alberts hair coiled as a lovers knot, tied at each end with black thread. The photograph in the locket was taken by John J. Edwin Mayall, in 1860

7.3cm long, 28.9g gross

After Prince Albert's death, Queen Victoria gave commemorative jewels set with portraits of her beloved husband, and this cross with its German inscription may have made for Prince Albert's German relatives such as his brother Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. The queen wrote to her daughter Victoria shortly afterwards: "How I, who leant on him for all and everything—without whom I did nothing, moved not a finger, arranged not a print or photograph, didn't put on a gown or bonnet if he didn't approve it shall go on, to live, to move, to help myself in difficult moments?”

Believed to have been purchased from Mary, Princess Royal, Countess of Harewood sale of items, Christie's. Catalogue of Highly Important Jewels. 7th October 1970

SOLD