Antique Snake Bangle with Secret Compartment, c. 1840

Keeper of Secrets

Antique Snake Bangle with Secret Compartment, c. 1840

€ 1,290.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Description

This description was automatically translated from German. If you have any questions about this piece of jewellery, we will be happy to help!

In the Christian tradition, the serpent is regarded as the great temptress: a cunning creature that, in the Garden of Eden, beguiled Eve into tasting the forbidden fruit and thereby brought about the Fall of Man. This was also the interpretation favoured by artists of the late nineteenth century. Yet in the first half of that century the serpent carried a very different meaning. Snakes biting their own tails—the ouroboroi—were understood as symbols of eternal love and appeared not only in mourning jewellery but also in romantic pieces exchanged between lovers. In 1839, for instance, Prince Albert presented Queen Victoria with an engagement ring in the form of a serpent. The bracelet presented here dates from precisely this period. Crafted from gilt tombac, it captivates with its unusual design. On the outer face, the serpent’s body is adorned with particularly sculptural floral engravings. The tail and head of the reptile are set with large Bohemian garnets in rose cuts. Inside the bangle is a small lidded compartment. This would have accommodated a lock of hair or a love note, allowing such a token to be carried secretly and close to the body. Then as now, the serpent coils itself most decoratively about the wrist, delighting the beholder with a form that is at once mysterious and alluring. This rare jewel, dating from around 1840, found its way to us here in Berlin.

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The snake has fascinated people since ancient times. On the one hand, it was feared because of its dangerous poison and cunning, and avoided as the temptress of Adam and Eve. On the other hand, it was also admired for the numerous abilities attributed to it. It was regarded as a symbol of eternal life, the cleverest animal and the symbol of the god of medicine, Asclepius. Jewelry with snake motifs gained great popularity, especially in the 19th century. You will find numerous snake rings, snake necklaces and earrings with snake motifs from the Biedermeier period in our range, as well as wonderful Art Nouveau designs, which also loved the symbolic animal.

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Size & Details

Keeper of Secrets

€ 1,290.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Our Promise

We want you to be 100% satisfied! For that reason, we examine, describe and photograph all of our jewellery with the utmost care.

You can rely on our years of experience in the trade and our expertise as a professional art historians for reviews of the antique jewellery. As a member of various trade organisations and the British Society of Jewellery Historians, we remain committed to the highest possible degree of accuracy. In our descriptions, we always also indicate any signs of age and defects and never hide them in our photos – this saves you from any unpleasant surprises when your package arrives.

Should you for some reason not be satisfied, please don’t hesitate to contact us so that we can find a solution together. In any case, you can return any article within one month and we will refund the full purchase price.

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Keeper of Secrets

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