A beautiful 17th century hanger

[thinreadline]

Is there any hard evidence that the figures depicted are actually William and Mary ?

[M ELEY]

I had also questioned that point, but the cameos depict a royal couple with crown, no question about that. These type hangers were really only used by the gentry in England and are very time specific based on their construction, decoration, etc. to the period 1680-ish up to 1710 or so. After that, more plain hangers came into play lacking the mythological elements, cherubs, harpies, Medusa, the Green Man, Hercules, etc, etc, which were passe. So, either these are indeed William and Mary or they are some fanciful generic depictions of an earlier king and queen (Arthur???)

[thinreadline]

Originally Posted by M ELEY

I had also questioned that point, but the cameos depict a royal couple with crown, no question about that. These type hangers were really only used by the gentry in England and are very time specific based on their construction, decoration, etc. to the period 1680-ish up to 1710 or so. After that, more plain hangers came into play lacking the mythological elements, cherubs, harpies, Medusa, the Green Man, Hercules, etc, etc, which were passe. So, either these are indeed William and Mary or they are some fanciful generic depictions of an earlier king and queen (Arthur???)

yes , take your point .... though as has been already remarked , it is surprising that 'Mary' is not wearing a crown ... as this 'joint monarchy' was a very important condition of the deal in inviting William over .