The Property of
A LADY
SPECTACULAR ANTIQUE DIAMOND AND GOLD SERPENT NECKLACE
细节
SPECTACULAR ANTIQUE DIAMOND AND GOLD SERPENT NECKLACE
Centering upon a serpent's head set with single, old mine and old European-cut diamonds, the body and tail forming an articulated bombé tapering band, enhanced by old mine-cut diamonds, mounted in gold (with additional links), mid-19th century--31½ ins. long
Prevalent in the Georgian period, jewelry with snake or serpent images became even more fashionable during the Victorian era, popularized by Queen Victoria whose engagement ring was a serpent motif. The image of a serpent in the form of a circle with its tail in its mouth symbolized eternity. Serpent jewelry could be enameled or gem set, rigid or flexible, coiled or extended. The head was often pave-set with turquoise or diamonds. The bodies of the serpents were a supple gold linking to suggest the scaly body of the reptile as well as to simulate its movement. Collars and necklaces were designed so that the tip of the tail would lock into the serpent's mouth. On the illustrated example, articulated segments, set with either a single diamond or a cluster of diamonds, provide a luxuriant texture to represent scales of the serpent along its entire body, almost a yard in length.
Centering upon a serpent's head set with single, old mine and old European-cut diamonds, the body and tail forming an articulated bombé tapering band, enhanced by old mine-cut diamonds, mounted in gold (with additional links), mid-19th century--31½ ins. long
Prevalent in the Georgian period, jewelry with snake or serpent images became even more fashionable during the Victorian era, popularized by Queen Victoria whose engagement ring was a serpent motif. The image of a serpent in the form of a circle with its tail in its mouth symbolized eternity. Serpent jewelry could be enameled or gem set, rigid or flexible, coiled or extended. The head was often pave-set with turquoise or diamonds. The bodies of the serpents were a supple gold linking to suggest the scaly body of the reptile as well as to simulate its movement. Collars and necklaces were designed so that the tip of the tail would lock into the serpent's mouth. On the illustrated example, articulated segments, set with either a single diamond or a cluster of diamonds, provide a luxuriant texture to represent scales of the serpent along its entire body, almost a yard in length.