SNAKE BRACELET - Lot 5

SNAKE BRACELET A 750-thousandths yellow gold bracelet featuring a snake coiled in several turns, with a finely chiseled design simulating scales. The finely sculpted head features an open mouth with fangs and a tongue. The eyes are set with rubies, and the top of the head is adorned with a rose-cut diamond. Dated to the second half of the 19th century Gross weight: 31 g. Note: A symbol of eternity, rebirth, and fidelity, the serpent is one of the most iconic motifs in 19th-century jewelry. Very much in vogue during the Second Empire, particularly after the famous serpent jewelry worn by Queen Victoria, it inspired numerous naturalistic designs in which the goldsmith’s virtuosity is evident in the rendering of the scales, the head, and the decorative stones. Multi-coiled designs, such as this piece, are among the most sought-after creations of this period.