Antique SNAKE "Imitate the BIRDS" Floral Pansy Reversible Fob Pendant Heavy 7.3g 18k Gold French Traditional Enamel Coiled Two Heads

I take regularly scheduled inventory trips to Europe to offer you a selection of carefully curated antiques. These have all been hand picked one at a time and most are one of a kind.

ABOUT:

Here is a unique pendant with lots of fun design elements and plenty of representative elements, each like a secret message for the wearer, all created in the traditional French antique design.

Crafted in solid 18k gold with enamel details, the bracket is designed as two coiled snakes whose heads reach down and hold the reversible panel of the pendant. On one side is a floral pansy motif and on the other side is the cypher with French text: "Imites Les..." and then the image of two birds that look like love birds facing eachother.

The Victorians were fascinated with nature and also with jewelry, and we see some wonderful designs come from the period incorporating both of these delights. As the figural pieces of the Victorian era often held a symbolism, snakes represented the duality of good and evil, as well as being symbols of death and rebirth or immortality, transformation and healing, and even fertility. This motif was highly popularized by Queen Victoria who received a snake ring from Prince Albert who designed it after the Roman belief that the intertwined snake represented eternal and everlasting love, as is likely the case in the message here.

Then we have the obvious "Imitate the Birds" motif on one side of the panel. And finally being a French piece, the flower on the other side is actually named "pensee" in French, which is also the French word that translates to "Thought". So the floral side of the pendant portrays the message "Think of me."

No hallmarks remain but tests at 18k gold which is the standard in France.

Please note the measurements as I have small fingers and it can be difficult to determine scale from pictures. Some of my buyers "draw out" an example to get an idea of scale in person.

Antique Boxes, props, hooks, chains, mice : ) not included. I just used some staging chains to show examples of how to wear.

SIZE & MEASUREMENTS:

Weight is a sturdy 7.3 grams. 30mm east west by 32mm top to bottom.

IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:

This one has had a repair where the panel probably original spun but is now fixed in place with a weld on one side so the panel stays put where it is and as it is situated. The other side still has the post to swivel on but looks like it was welded at one point too, however that side is no longer connected. Some space can be created with pressure but while wearing it is super sturdy in the fixed position. The fixer decided to make the flower face up which means when you flip the piece over, the text is upside down, or perhaps it was meant to be this way for the wearer to look down at, in which case it would be facing up : )

Some loss to the enamel on both sides with half the coloring to the flower missing and some of the blue outline of the bird image especially. Still legible and the birds appear complete in color although all the enamel has wear. Super legible snakes and both sides readable. The panel was crafted with vacant space in between the two sides and now has a fingerprint impression in the center where it gradually caves in. It is not sharp or glaring, especially on the bird side, but the two sides were squeezed together so you can see the gradual impression on the flower side.

This late Georgian to early Victorian piece has signs of age but so many interesting design elements and it is still sturdy and heavy, a striking piece to wear.

Please note that all my pieces are pre-owned and in estate condition. They will have patina, surface wear, a few small nicks. These pieces may also have evidence of a sizing, some build up around the stones and / or inclusions seen under magnification, typical for antique pieces. I have mentioned any noticeable issues above and they are all still wearable and eager to be loved and accepted for many years to come, (the preservation of antique jewelry, even those with signs of their age and history, is important to me. : ) There are no dark spots to the gold, it was just difficult to photograph because it is so shiny and mirrored that it reflects its surroundings including the green trees out the window.
But - Please note due to age, this piece is not in mint condition. Pictures also serve as part of the description and condition report so please utilize the zoom feature which will magnify any wear significantly more than what is visible to the eye while wearing : )

Thanks so much for looking at my items!

SOCIAL:
Please feel free watch @mouseshouseantiques on Instagram for inventory drops, sneak peaks and previews! And check out my website www.MousesHouseAntiques.com as I can add more pics there so you can get extra looks : )

All items hand picked by me, one at a time from all over the world. All listings individually written by me, and not AI, after studying each piece to discuss its beauties and its ; ) eccentricities (which I am picky to point out).

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