Florence Nightingale

The brooch Queen Victoria gave her for her Crimean War work, 1855 Prince Albert designed it and Garrard made it: a St George's cross in red enamel on a white ground, ringed by a black band inscribed "Blessed are the merciful". Victoria's covering letter said its form and emblems commemorated Nightingale's great and blessed work, and hoped she would wear it as a mark of royal approval. That letter is what makes this the clearest case here. Nobody has to guess at the message, because the giver wrote it down, and the brooch itself was made to carry it.