Locket for a caul

Object Type:
According to family tradition, this locket contains part of the caul (the membrane enclosing the foetus before birth) that John Monson was born with in 1597. This was considered to be lucky, especially as a protection against drowning...

Ownership & Use:
It was customary at this time for both men and women to wear jewellery... It is possible that this locket was made as a christening (baptism) gift... Gifts given at baptisms often included table salts or cups, silver spoons and other precious metal objects. It seems likely that this locket was given to John Monson as a keepsake after his birth.

From the collections of the Victoria and Albert, via Frowzy Indulgences.