American president Thomas Jefferson did not exactly have a happy life. Though he was an eminent politician and president, his marriage was tragically cut short by the death of his wife, Martha Wayles Jefferson. She died after a prolonged illness which began after the couple’s sixth child. She died on Sept 6, 1782.
Before she died, he had got a Memento Mori done which contained the locks of her hair. Memento moris contain the body parts of a human being when they were living. That is kept as a remembrance of the person and most artists, kings, and important people had their memento moris. The watch key, which is the memento mori is expected to fetch $40,000 to $80,000 at the Christie’s auction in New York.
It will take place on the 21, 22 and 25 January. Jefferson had a special interest in timepieces and this could e one of the reasons why he chose to get a memento mori in the form of a watch key. You could easily see the hair of the former First Lady of the U.S.A, which seems to be a really great thing to buy, if you are interested in American History.
Via: national jeweler network
