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Thursday, 25th June 2009 (1221 views)

A gold brooch containing a lock of Admiral Lord Nelson's hair is to be auctioned off this weekend.

UK firm Brown & Co will put the item - which is expected to fetch between £300 and £500 - under the hammer at its quarterly antiques sale in Brigg, Lincolnshire, the Sheffield Telegraph reports.

The glass-encased piece is made from gold and green enamel and is inscribed on the back with 'Horatio Nelson obit 21st October 1805. The enclosed hair was cut off by Thomas Hardy at the action at Trafalgar and presented by him to Richard Dusgate'.

Craig Bewick, spokesman for the auction house, said the brooch is highly unusual and as such difficult to value.

He added: "Clearly with memorabilia of this kind, establishing the provenance is critically important and in this case the provenance is good. The Dusgate-Nelson link is rock solid."

Earlier this month, an 18-c gold brooch was donated by Gladstone Jewellery to a charity sale being held during Coutts London Jewellery Week.

 

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