A gold locket that is believed to be a token of the scandalous affair between Admiral Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton has emerged for sale.
The 3in-long piece, which was unknown to experts but is said to be genuine, is decorated with locks of their hair and with pearls.
It commemorates the Battle of the Nile, in which the Royal Navy routed the French, and contains the date of the first day of that encounter – August 1, 1798.
The next month Nelson got to know Emma Hamilton and they fell in love. Both were married.
Nelson’s sandy-coloured hair is on one side of the locket and Emma’s darker hair is on the reverse.
The locket has come from a family in Australia via relatives in Portsmouth to an auction house in Wiltshire, but its history is a bit of a mystery.
Jonathan Edwards from Woolley and Wallis auction house in Salisbury said: 'This is potentially a very important piece.
'We are sure as we can be that it is right and we've had experts look at it and they agree.
'There is an "N" on it which means Nelson. We believe it was made in the year following the battle because after that Nelson used the name Bronte.
'Quite who it was made for and how it got to Australia we don't know. It has pearls in it, an anchor and an arrow.
'There is also gold thread and it really is a beautiful thing that is more likely to have been worn by a woman.'
Mr Edwards added: 'Nelson's reputation really suffered because of his affair with Lady Hamilton, although it was restored in time.
'This really ought to go into a museum.'
It is to be sold on Thursday by Woolley and Wallis in Salisbury with an estimated price of up to £5,000.
The 3in-long piece, which was unknown to experts but is said to be genuine, is decorated with locks of their hair and with pearls.
It commemorates the Battle of the Nile, in which the Royal Navy routed the French, and contains the date of the first day of that encounter – August 1, 1798.
Tokens of love: Nelson's hair (left) and Emma's (right) in the lockets up for auction
Nelson’s sandy-coloured hair is on one side of the locket and Emma’s darker hair is on the reverse.
The locket has come from a family in Australia via relatives in Portsmouth to an auction house in Wiltshire, but its history is a bit of a mystery.
Naval hero: Admiral Lord Nelson had an affair with a married woman in 1798
'We are sure as we can be that it is right and we've had experts look at it and they agree.
'There is an "N" on it which means Nelson. We believe it was made in the year following the battle because after that Nelson used the name Bronte.
'Quite who it was made for and how it got to Australia we don't know. It has pearls in it, an anchor and an arrow.
'There is also gold thread and it really is a beautiful thing that is more likely to have been worn by a woman.'
Mr Edwards added: 'Nelson's reputation really suffered because of his affair with Lady Hamilton, although it was restored in time.
'This really ought to go into a museum.'
It is to be sold on Thursday by Woolley and Wallis in Salisbury with an estimated price of up to £5,000.
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