14kt Gold-mounted Intaglio-carved Hardstone Watch Fob

Description:

14kt Gold-mounted Intaglio-carved Hardstone Watch Fob, late 18th/early 19th century, reportedly John Quincy Adams's watch fob, the floriform mount with bezel-set oval hardstone, one side intaglio-carved with the Arms of Boylston as differenced by John Adams (John Quincy's father),the obverse with an intaglio carved bowknot suspending an oval reserve with the monogram "JQA," in script, the fob suspended from a gold buckle on a black silk ribbon with gold chain with hinged watch clasp.

Literature: See The American Herald, No. 2 (2007),"John Adams and John Quincy Adams, 2nd and 6th Presidents of the United States," by Joseph McMillan. The article explains the American heraldic custom by some families, of arms inherited in the female line, rather than from father to son, as is the British rule. The shield and crest on this fob uses that of the Boylston family, John Adams's mother Susanna Boylston Adams, which she passed on to her eldest son, John Adams, and which was used when he needed armorial bearings to use in his diplomatic work in Europe. This article can be searched online at http://www.americanheraldry.org.
Estimate $1,000-1,500

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