What is the story behind this jewellery?

QI recently discovered this piece of jewellery and would love to know more about its origins and what it represents. On one side is a portrait of a young well-heeled gentleman, while on the other side is an arrangement of hair, pearls and gold thread on what looks like mother of pearl with the initials “AH”. The frame is made of rose gold.

I suspect that it might have something to do with the Hamilton family, who were of Swedish descent and lived in Scotland for some time before moving to Northern Ireland and eventually England. Jane Pinney

AThis miniature painting set within a piece of sentimental jewellery reflects an era when dress ornaments with profound personal meaning were in vogue. During the late 1700s and early 1800s, lockets, pendants, brooches and rings were worn as intimate love tokens inspired by a close relative, friend or lover, living or dead. They often bore the beloved’s image, like your male portrait, mounted as a pendant and probably worn around a lady’s neck.

The subject appears young, aged late 20s or early 30s – his likeness perhaps originally painted as one of a pair of wedding portraits. His appearance in an immaculate dark frock coat, fine white linen shirt and cravat reveals a late Georgian/Regency gentleman of fashion and means, portrayed c1800–1825.

Without written evidence we cannot know exactly where the miniature originated, but since the reverse composition incorporates his initials as well as likely mourning emblems, it is likely that this was memorial jewellery following his death. Hopefully these clues and the timeframe will help you to determine this man’s identity. Jayne Shrimpton