Vintage Serpent Bracelet with Sapphires and Diamonds in Gold, c. 1960

Dangerous Companion

Vintage Serpent Bracelet with Sapphires and Diamonds in Gold, c. 1960

€ 6,980.00 ^*

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!

Hardly any other animal is as rich in symbolism—and as full of contradictions—as the snake. Since biblical times, it has been portrayed as the cunning tempter of Eve and is shunned because of its venom and supposed treachery. Yet at the same time, as the Ouroboros biting its own tail, it is a symbol of infinity. Even the ancient Romans wore snake-shaped jewellery. Because of its connection to the god Asclepius, they regarded the reptile as a harbinger of good fortune, fertility, and health. From the late 18th to the mid-19th century, snake-shaped jewellery was a typical love gift, in keeping with ancient tradition. The motif was detached from its Christian context, and even Queen Victoria received a snake ring from Prince Albert as an engagement gift in 1839. It was not until the end of the century that the connotation shifted, and the snake became an accessory worn by women who were perceived as either self-assured or threatening. It adorned such diverse paintings as Franz von Stuck’s Sin, see here, or jewelry designs such as the bangle created for Sarah Bernhardt by Alphonse Mucha and Georges Fouquet, see here. In the 20th century, these two meanings eventually merged. In the 1920s, and again with Elizabeth Taylor’s portrayal in Cleopatra, snake-shaped jewellery became fashionable, and the snake was always portrayed as dangerous, menacing, and seductive. This bracelet is no exception. It is designed as an Ouroboros; the clasp is cleverly attached to the snake’s tail and hooks into the animal’s mouth. The snake’s head is adorned with a royal blue sapphire, and two brilliant-cut diamonds form the animal’s eyes. The snake’s body is particularly beautifully designed. It consists of 22 flexibly connected segments and therefore wraps softly and comfortably around the arm. Toward the center, the body widens slightly, just like a real snake. At the same time, this gives the bangle a beautiful internal structure. We were able to acquire this bangle here in Berlin from a Dutch collection. It is very good in condition. For a detailed discussion of the snake motif in the history of jewelry, see the exhibition catalog edited by Fritz Falk: Serpentina. The Snake in Jewellery Around the World, Pforzheim Jewellery Museum, Nov. 26, 2011–Feb. 26, 2012, Stuttgart 2011.

Size & Details

Dangerous Companion

€ 6,980.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Our Promise

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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.

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Dangerous Companion

Bracelets & Bangles

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