(Ca. 1810) Washington Pendant

A rare, interesting and historic gold pendant containing a stippled engraving of George Washington under glass, with ELI CANBY inscribed above and FEB. 22, 1810 below. The back has a fancy script “SONS OF WASHINGTON”. The Sons of Washington was a Society of Gentlemen whose motto was ‘To Emulate his Glorious Example.”, of which Eli Canby was presumably a member. The only other example of this type we have seen offered in recent years was a damaged, unissued example, while the present piece is lovely and intact.