Victorian Snake Necklace with Locket in Gold & Horn, England c. 1860

Ancient Symbol

Victorian Snake Necklace with Locket in Gold & Horn, England c. 1860

€ 3,690.00 ^*

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!

This necklace is a typical piece of jewellery from the Victorian era. This period loved references to content in pieces of jewellery more than almost any other, and so all conceivable references to the great themes, be it love, memory, faith, literature or even home, can be found in the pieces of jewellery of the era. This necklace is dedicated to the theme of love. It is designed in the shape of a snake: Its body is made up of dark brown beads of horn in sleeves of gold. The clasp shows the head and tail of the animal. The snake holds a heart in its mouth. The motif of the snake is an ancient symbol of friendship and attachment, as the snake wraps itself around its victim and never lets go, just as a loving person does with the person in their heart. In the form of a so-called ouroboros, i.e. a snake biting its own tail and thus devouring itself, this piece of jewellery also stands for the cycle of life. It is a symbol of all renewing time and eternity itself. The snake holds a locket in its mouth, which features an inlay of braided hair in a glazed compartment on the front. Fine inlays in piqué technique shine here like lace against a dark background. In this technique, filigree gold and silver elements are inlaid in horn to create graceful patterns and arrangements. The technique flourished in France in the 17th and 18th centuries. Huguenot emigrants then brought the craft to England, where it enjoyed great popularity throughout the 19th century. The center of piqué production was the English city of Birmingham, where the craftsmen mastered this technique. Unfortunately, this technique is now lost. Only antique jewellery, such as this necklace, still bears witness to the craftsmen's skill. The necklace dates back to England around 1860 and is a wonderful addition to any jewelry collection and can still be worn today! For dating, see similar designs, but here for bracelets, in The jewellers' book of patterns in hair work, London 1864, also online here.

Size & Details

Ancient Symbol

€ 3,690.00 ^*

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.

Learn more

Ancient Symbol

Chains & Necklaces

Privacy settings