The Silver Locket

By Charlotte Mak, age 10

Hello, I am a silver locket from the Tudor times. My mistress was Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII. I was a gift for King Henry to Anne Boleyn when they married. Honestly, King Henry was ghastly to me!

I was crafted by a hunk of silver, and the jeweller carved beautiful floral patterns on me, slit me open and applied hinges onto both my sides. He then carefully used another small piece of silver to craft a hook to slip the chain in. Finally, he finished making my body and took a shiny chain to put in the hook. Then you get the perfect locket for your fiancée!

Before the king presented me to Anne Boleyn, he kept me in a leather box with velvet cushioning inside. It was very comfortable and King Henry would open the box every day to check on me, just in case someone stole his precious jewel (moi!).

The face on my mistress’s face was pure joy when she received me. I felt so happy to be able to make someone’s day even happier because everyone wanted to have a look at me, with my carved floral patterns and delicate chain.

But when Queen Elizabeth I had the war with the Spanish Armada (Anne Boleyn was long gone before this), I was kept in the same leather box in the treasure room. I was lost somehow because I felt the comfy leather box open and I tumbled out.

I rested in the floors of the Tudor palace for 489 years until Vintiques of Surrey found me and picked me up. I then became a part of their exhibition, sitting on my post everyday watching people admiring other vintage and historical mini architectures in the store.

Everyday I hope someone comes across me and purchase me to welcome me into a new environment and owner!