Down Memory Lane

Many women have fond memories of jewelry and jewelry boxes from their childhood. Often we have learnt about jewelry from older women mentors, whether grandmothers, mothers, aunts or sisters.

Our memories of Aunty Grace’s antique jewelry box or the childrens jewelry box we were given remain with us into adult life.

A Family Affair

I remember my Aunt Grace’s precious antique jewelry box which stood on her dresser, surrounded by bottles of lavender perfume and talcum powder.

Aunty Grace forbade my five-year-old self from touching the antique jewelry box without her adult supervision. This she gladly provided. Aunty Grace loved telling me stories, some of them undoubtedly fabricated, about the many pieces of jewelry in her dazzling collection.

Aunty Grace’s beautiful antique jewelry box was a finely crafted case of rich, shining maple wood with a glistening lock and a velvet inlay. Upon turning the small key in the lock and lifting the glossy lid of the box, a sparkling display of colourful gems was revealed.

It always took Aunty Grace a good few minutes to reveal her jewelry collection. It may have been a consequence of her advanced age, but I suspect Aunty Grace took her time for my benefit. I watched her eagerly as she gradually turned the key and slowly lifted the lid of her beautiful antique jewelry box.

Aunty Grace was the only surviving relative on my mother’s side of the family. She acted as surrogate grandmother, complete with wispy grey curls and a face of happy wrinkles, wrinkles from a life well-lived.

Uncle Grace, whom I never met, was a diplomat who loved his wife dearly. Because Aunty and Uncle Grace travelled throughout their marriage, Aunty Grace’s antique jewelry box included pieces from far away places like India, Russia and South Africa.

Aunty Grace was very fond of antique jewelry and of course needed an antique jewelry box in which to store her glistening treasures. Her collection included a Victorian necklace dripping with rubies and an Art Deco brooch with emeralds and diamonds.

Favourite Favourite

Of all the pieces in my grandmother’s antique jewelry box my favourite was an Edwardian engagement ring with intricate, lace-like detail. When Aunty Grace took this ring out of her antique jewelry box, she would hold it up to the light and admire the champagne diamond shimmering in the light.

She would always recount the story of Princess Mary who received the smallest diamond engagement ring at the age of two on the occasion of her betrothal to Dauphin of France, son of King Francis I. When Aunty Grace passed on in 2000, I inherited her champagne diamond ring.