I have not seen this subject on a Stuart crystal slide before and cannot find a parallel in reference books or museum collections. A plump gold and silver slide, circa 1680, containing a vivid blue enamel ground overlaid with an enamel device of Cupid, having shot his arrow through a lover’s heart, above a leaping stag. This is a visual pun as Cupid has shot a heart above a hart [male stag]. Below the scene is the enamel motto, Varreste Love, a corruption of the Latin verb voliere, meaning ‘to be worthy’, hence the motto is ‘worthy of love’. The scene is set under a faceted rock crystal within a border of foiled table-cut garnets and Scottish river pearls. The reverse is as exquisite as the obverse, enamelled in a pink, black and white botanical design much favoured in the 17th century. A later gold brooch fitting has been added to the original intact slide fittings which my jeweller can easily remove. The slide measures 1 and 1/4 inches by 1 and 1/4 inches. Quite a fabulous thing.

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