Serpent mourning pin for Arthur Blundell Sandys Trumbull Hill (1788-1845),3rd Marquess of Downshire and major Irish landowner.
The high carat coiled serpent encircles the hair locket which contains a tiny single lock of the Marquess’s hair.
As is typical of the period the snake is  enamelled in a chevron design and the eye highlighted with red enamel. 
Serpent 2cms by 1 cm.
Wear to one eye.
The 3rd Marquess was a very strong supporter of the Irish language and received an honorary degree from Cambridge 1835.
He died 12th April 1845 the funeral attracting an enormous crowd and an impressive monument with his statue atop was erected at Hillsborough 1848.