Drake Jewel facts for kids
The Drake Jewel is a precious pendant given to Sir Francis Drake by Queen Elizabeth I to show her gratitude. The pendant is on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
History
Elizabeth I had the pendant created especially for Drake, by a renowned artisan, as a demonstration of gratitude. Drake's Jewel was created by Nicholas Hilliard and given to Drake before 1591, possibly to celebrate England's victory against the Spanish Armada in 1588. Drake was painted by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger in 1591 and is shown wearing the jewel. Drake valued this pendant more than any of his other possessions.
After Drake's death in 1596 the jewel passed to Thomas Drake, his brother, and upon his death in 1637, to Thomas's widow. She sold the Jewel to her daughters for £3000 (about £59 million today).
Description
On the front, the Jewel shows a cameo of an African man and a European woman. The reverse opens to show a painting of Elizabeth I and a phoenix. The African man is wearing a paludamentum, the head gear of Roman generals and emperors. The portraits are watercolour on vellum, surrounded by rubies, diamonds and pearls.
Gallery
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A portrait of Drake wearing the Jewel, by Henry Bone, dated 1829
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Detail from the Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger portrait
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The pendant at the V&A museum
