Marina Vieira, Junior Jewellery Specialist from Fellows' London office, has been discussing her favourite items from the Jewellery Sale on March 26th:
The snake or serpent is without a doubt one of the most beloved symbols used in jewellery from all different époques and cultures. Although the reptile might have been so widely used partly due to its rope-like form easily lending to almost unlimited possibilities when used to contour the body in the shape of rings, necklaces or bracelets, the imagery and connotations it provokes are as vast as they are often contradictory.

 

Aside the Judeo-Christian iconology that the serpent is often and more commonly associated with in popular culture, we have evidence as ancient as those of the Egyptian pharaohs using snake pendants around their necks to represent their royalty. In ancient Greece, the snake stood as a symbol of wisdom and medicine, the latter which can be seen today as medical professions are still associated with the image of the Caduceus, which represents one or two snakes wrapped around a staff.

 

Lot 174 from Fellows’ March 26th Jewellery Sale Lot 174 from Fellows' March 26th Jewellery Sale

Although it might be the image of Cleopatra which comes to mind as we conjure up the fashionable woman with a special love for adorning herself with these slithering creatures, it is really Queen Victoria who is responsible for the more modern iterations of this recurring image in jewellery. It is said, that when she was given an emerald-set ring in the shape of a continuous snake as an engagement ring from Prince Albert, this set a trend throughout Europe that can still be seen in jewellery today. As a result, the Victorian era shaped the way we perceive snake and serpent jewellery as more of a symbol of eternal love and desire today. It is with the intention of honouring this tradition that Fellows' March Jewellery Sale offered a variety of snake inspired jewellery ranging from Victorian era examples such as Lot 174, which sold for a hammer price of £820, to more modern and abstracted styles such as Lot 499, which sold for £340.