Circa 1880
Antique Gold, Sapphire & Diamond Snake Bracelet
An antique French yellow gold and gemset snake bracelet, circa 1880. The bracelet is designed to wrap around the wrist, the woven 18ct yellow gold braided to be highly flexible, one end featuring a snake’s head with open mouth and engraved detailing, the top of the head embellished with a line of cushion cut sapphires with old cut diamonds either side, two sapphires for eyes and the other end a smooth tapered gold termination for the tail.
£29,500.00
Information
Subtitle
Circa 1880
Origin
France
Period
1750-1900
Period
circa 1880
Gemstone
10 x cushion cut sapphires - estimated total 3.45ct
38 x old cut diamonds
Setting
18ct yellow gold with French marks
Dimensions
Highly flexible - would fit a small to medium wrist
Weight Description
63.4 grams
REF
129268
Director’s Notes
The snake motif has been used in jewellery for centuries, in Ancient Egypt the snake symbolised royalty and divinity, for the Ancient Greeks it was a symbol of healing and medicine. It also had a surge of popularity during the Victorian era after Queen Victoria received a snake ring from Prince Albert upon their engagement. The motif continued to be incredibly popular in jewellery of the 20th Century and can be seen reimagined in so many ways throughout the decades. The snake is frequently associated with the qualities of wisdom, power, eternal love and everlasting life and the smooth sinuous lines considered a thing of beauty, indeed William Hogarth referred to ‘the serpentine line’ as a ‘line of beauty’ in his ‘The Analysis of Beauty’
