One portrait is of the Queen and the other is of an unnamed woman believed to be her mother. The piece – made from mother of pearl and embossed with rubies and diamonds – was commissioned in 1575 and opens to display two miniature portraits. However, it was a locket ring owned by Queen Elizabeth I that reportedly changed the nature of vessel jewellery from malicious to nostalgic. Lucrezia Borgia, the daughter of Pope Alexander VI, is rumoured to have had a hollow ring that she used to contaminate the drinks of political rivals, gaining her own family’s political domination. In the Renaissance era, European aristocracies, such as the Borgia family, used poison rings to gain political power. His ring was the subsequent cause of his own demise – he consumed the poison his ring concealed to avoid torture and betrayal when captured by his enemies, the Romans. The first documented evidence of the use of a poison ring was by the famous general of Carthage, Hannibal. Poison rings and similar vessel pieces have been said to be synonymous with causing mysterious deaths and were commonly used by the wearer to slip poison into an enemy’s food or drink. Most readers will know not to “judge a book by its cover”, hence jewellery pieces with secret compartments are a testament to the rule. The popularity of jewellery that featured hidden compartments – and agendas – grew during the Renaissance era, but its existence dates back to 183 B.C. The main attraction of jewellery is arguably based on aesthetics – the way an item shines, sparkles, shimmers … the list goes on. Sometimes, however, a unique design feature that creates intrigue and mystery can leave a lasting impression on a customer.
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