This 14kt yellow gold brooch depicts a coiling snake, with an open mouth that displays a set of shark little teeth - a biological inaccuracy that is often observed in Victorian depictions of snakes!
Its head is set with a flat, round-shaped opal, and an oval rose-cut diamond. Its eyes are set with tiny rubies, and the rest of its head and part of its body is decorated with filigree decorations.
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 either eternal love, the circle of life, and hope of life after death.
This little snake was made in the middle of the 19th Century, when snake jewellery had a peak in popularity, after Prince Albert famously gifted Queen Victoria an emerald-encrusted snake ring for their engagement in 1839.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Size: 33 x 23 mm.
Weight: 5.60 grams.
Age: 19th Century, also known as the Victorian era, circa 1880s.
Material: Hallmarked for 14k gold. The pin is made from metal.
Condition: In good antique condition with only minor wear, consistent with age. The body of the snake is cast, and therefore it has a few dents which were caused during wear in the past: these can be seen in the pictures.
Please note that this store 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.