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Primary sourceArtifactc. 1586-88

Drake Jewel

Nicholas Hilliard (miniatures); unknown goldsmith · c. 1586-88

A gold pendant containing a miniature portrait of Elizabeth I, given by the queen to Francis Drake as a mark of royal favour.

This jewel was given to Drake by Elizabeth I as a personal mark of gratitude and favour.

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Photograph of the Drake Jewel, a gold pendant set with rubies, diamonds and pearls, with a central oval cameo carved in brown stone showing a dark-skinned figure in profile. Two pearl drops hang below, displayed in a glass case.
Drake Jewel, c. 1586-88. Victoria and Albert Museum, London (on loan).

About this source

What it is

The Drake Jewel is a gold pendant set with rubies, diamonds and pearls, with a central cameo and two hidden miniatures inside painted by Nicholas Hilliard, showing Elizabeth I and her emblem the phoenix. Queen Elizabeth I gave the jewel to Francis Drake to show her gratitude, around 1586–88. It is now held by the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Why it matters

Drake wore this jewel in his own portraits, making it a visible sign of how close he stood to royal favour. It connects the skills of Elizabethan goldsmiths and the miniaturist Nicholas Hilliard to the political relationship between a monarch and the privateer she sponsored and rewarded.

  • Why might Elizabeth have given Drake a jewel containing her own portrait rather than another kind of gift?
  • What does the craftsmanship of the jewel suggest about its value and importance?
  • Why do you think Drake chose to wear it in his portraits?

This artifact is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Sir Francis Drake on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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