This 18k yellow gold brooch is expertly executed, depicting a snake, holding a pearl in its mouth. Its engraved scales run through the back of the pin too, a clear testament to the high quality of its design.
The snake has been used as a motive in jewellery for millennia. It is seen as a symbol of both wisdom and eternity, and therefore often symbolizes eternal love, the circle of life, and the hope of life after death. The popularity of the snake in jewellery reached its peak in the 19th Century, after Prince Albert famously gifted Queen Victoria an emerald-encrusted snake ring for their engagement in 1839.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Size: 52 x 10 mm.
Weight: 7.15 grams.
Age: Late 19th Century, also known as the Victorian era, circa 1890s.
Material: Hallmarked with a French hallmark for 18k gold.
Condition: In great antique condition with only minor wear, consistent with age.
Please note that the antique box is for display purposes only.