Gold slide, England, dated 1697. Height: 1.9cm, Width: 2.2cm, Depth: 0.8cm. Bequeathed by Frank Ward, M.12-1960. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

with a skull on a winged hour-glass and two cherubs on an enamelled coffin, under rock crystal, inscribed MEM. MORI (remember death) with the initials EB on a background of hair, under rock crystal, engraved on the back obt 6 Feb 1697.

Jewels commemorating the dead were widely worn in the decades around 1700. Stark imagery such as skeletons and winged hourglasses were frequently used and were produced as standard components in stamped gold which might also be enamelled.

In this example there is a skull on a winged hourglass and two cherubs on a coffin - against a background panel of woven hair. The inscription 'MEM. MORI' or 'remember death' reminds the viewer of his or her mortality while the initials EB in gold wire give a clue as to the identity of the deceased who - according to the inscription on the back - died on 6th February 1697.

The slide was a very popular type of jewel at this date. Fitted with two flat loops at the back, a ribbon of silk or woven hair would be threaded through enabling it to be worn around the neck or wrist.