Mourning Jewelry, Memorial Jewelry, Georgian pendant, Wheat Sheaf motif, pearl surround, gold

This is a beautiful, Georgian pendant featuring the wheat sheaf motif. I have heard two different versions of the meaning of this motif, and both from dealers of whom I have a great deal of respect. One says this is a mourning motif with a Biblical reference, and the other says it is a love or amatory token, often given to brides, as sort of a good luck token for fertility. Whichever, this is a lovely piece. The wheat sheaf itself consists of ground hair. There are one or two lose bunches--one or two may well be intentional as every piece with this motif I have ever seen has a bit of "wheat falling from the bale," which, I would think, would denote mourning. This pendant has a natural pearl surround, and the hair is gathered with a gold ribbon and 5 natural pearls. I do not have my gold testing equipment with me, but this piece is definitely 9 ct gold or better. With the bale, it measures 2 inch North to South, and 5/8 of an inch East to West. The pendant is circa 1780. I have had rings and clasps with this motif, but this is the first pendant . This piece most likely started life as a brooch though, as I do see evidence of clasp removal and addition of the bale.