This 18k yellow gold pendant is shaped like a hand holding a dagger, its cuff studded with a tiny cabochon-cut turquoise. I converted this pendant from a stickpin, which was originally worn in a man's cravat, the predecessor of the necktie.
Coral hands like these have been worn as lucky charms for centuries. In this case, the dagger is not only a display of power, but also intended to scare evil spirits away.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Size: 27 x 22 x 8 mm
Weight: 2.95 grams
Age: 19th Century, Victorian era, circa 1880s.
Material: The pin was originally hallmarked with a French hallmark for 18k gold, used after 1838.
Condition: In great antique condition with only minor signs of wear, consistent with its age. The pendant was converted from a pin: the cabochon-cut turquoise sits at the spot where the pin was originally connected to the cuff.
Please note that the antique box is for display purposes. This shop is based in the EU. Although antiques are exempt from taxes in most countries, buyers from outside the EU might be subject to import duties.