Over the past several millennia, the snake has been used to represent many things: both good and evil, as well as fertility, passion, and rebirth. The Victorians employed the image of the snake as a symbol of everlasting love. This beautiful and incredibly unusual snake bracelet is fashioned almost entirely in pearls and dates to the late Victorian period. The snaked head is crowned with a row of larger pearls and its garnet eyes are framed with a strung fringe of tiny seed pearls. The pearls are strung and sewn onto a mother of pearl base. An absolutely stunning piece sold in its original box.
thedetails
- Materials
Seed pearls, garnet cabochons, 14k gold clasp.
- Age
c. 1880
- Condition
Very good but not perfect- one of the large pearls that form the body of the bracelet is partially blackened.
- Size
6.5" inner circumference, 1.5" head, 5/8" tail.
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Aboutthe
VictorianEra
1837 — 1901
The Victorians were avid consumers and novelty-seekers, especially when it came to fashion, and numerous fads came and went throughout the 19th century. In jewelry, whatever fashion choices Queen V. made reverberated throughout the kingdom. The Romantic period reflected the queen’s legendary love for her husband, Albert.
Jewelry from this period featured joyful designs like flowers, hearts, and birds, all which often had symbolic meaning. The queen’s betrothal ring was made in the shape of a snake, which stood for love, fidelity, and eternity. The exuberant tone shifted after Prince Albert passed away in 1861, marking the beginning of the Grand Period. Black jewelry became de rigeur as the Queen and her subjects entered “mourning,” which at the time represented not just an emotional state, as we conceive of it today, but a specific manner of conduct and dress. She wore the color black for the remainder of her life, and we see lots of black onyx, enamel, jet, and gutta percha in the jewelry from this time. Finally, during the late Victorian period, which transitioned along with a rapidly changing world into the “Aesthetic Movement”, there was a return to organic and whimsical motifs: serpents, crescent moons, animals, and Japonaisserie designed for the more liberated “Gibson Girl”. During the second half of the 19th century, America entered the global jewelry market, with Tiffany and Co. leading the way. Lapidaries continued to perfect their techniques, and the old European cut emerged toward the end of the Victorian period. The discovery of rich diamond mines in South Africa made the colorless stones more accessible than ever before.
please note:Not suitable for everyday wear.
This bracelet is wearable but relatively fragile and should be worn more as a special occasion piece rather than an every day piece.