Place Made

Date Made

1789

Medium

ivory, metal hair

Dimensions

HOA: 1 5/8″; WOA: 1 1/16″

Accession Number

4065

Description

SUBJECT: A mourning miniature in memory of Ann Gilliam Blunt, who was the daughter of John Gilliam and the first wife of William Blunt, Jr. Ann married Blunt in Brunswick County, Virginia, in 1788, and died just a year later. She had no children. Her husband William remarried in 1790 to Elizabeth, daughter of Cordall and Mary (Wilkinson) Norfleet of Greensville County. This marriage produced eight children. The second child, a daughter born in 1793, was named Ann Gilliam Blunt, presumably after the subject of this pin. This second Ann, who apparently inherited the pin of her namesake, married first Nathaniel Wilkinson and second Thomas Ridley II.

DESCRIPTION: Gold pin in pointed oval shape, with inset of painted ivory set behind glass. On reverse is plaited brown hair set behind glass. Brown on white picture shows gentleman in 18th century dress complete with knee length breeches, weeping into a handkerchief. At the left is a tomb with an urn on the top and an inscription on the face. Above the tomb flies a winged cherub. In the background are trees, and at the top an inscription banner.

Credit Line

Given by Mrs. Gregory Tyler Hand in memory of Margaret Ridley