Portrait miniature - brooch -of Frederick St.John, 2nd Viscount Bolingbroke

This glamorous miniature and St.John family heirloom, depicts the wealthy young aristocrat, Frederick St.John, 2nd Viscount Bolingbroke. Set in a fine gold brooch, decorated with pearls and diamonds in the form of a coronet, the miniature was possibly commissioned as a love token for his wife Lady Diana Spencer.

The couple had married after a brief engagement in 1757 and both were the subject of endless society gossip. Frederick was known for his expensive tastes, a penchant for luxury items and an addiction to drink, gambling and philandering. Lady Di's reputation was ruined following her affair with Topham Beauclerk whom she later married.

In 1950 Vernon StJohn, 6th Vsct. Bolingbroke gave the brooch as wedding present to his wife, Valezina Frohawk. Sadly the love token was to no avail. The couple's marriage was annulled in 1952 with Valezina later writing (I Remember by Valezina ISBN: 0 947718 10 9) ' I know that he was completely devoted to me, in his own strange way' but their time together was one of 'anxiety and bewilderment'.

For many years the miniature was thought to be of Frederick's uncle, the famous political statesman Henry 1st Viscount Bolingbroke, but close examination of the wig and costume make Frederick a more credible candidate.