Brooch, sold
GEORGIAN 15ct GOLD ENTWINED SNAKE ‘OUROBOROS’ HALLEY’S COMET BROOCH
£650.00
DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION
I have a longstanding personal passion for Georgian celestial jewellery, and this is one of the most detailed and symbolically significant comet jewels I have ever seen. Beautifully hand crafted throughout, the Forget-Me-Not flower forming the comet head comprises 8 collet set ‘petals’ of alternating pearls and turquoise cabochons, surrounding the central ‘stamen’ a millegrain collet set amethyst. Unfortunately the stone has been damaged and there is a small chip missing, however it is in no danger and remains stable and secure. Uniquely, the comet tail is formed of a pair of realistically rendered snakes or serpents, their bodies entwined, with incised cross-hatching detailing their scaled skin. Their heads feature opened eyes and mouths, tongues protruding as if to consume the delicate flower. These two motifs combine to express the confluence of the two sides of love; the physical hunger of sexual desire, and the elevated delicacy of emotion and romance. The serpent tails terminate, wrapped around another millegrain, collet set amethyst.
Pearls and turquoise are extremely vulnerable to degradation through age and exposure to sub-optimal environments, however these here are excellent: with strong, even colour and smooth, satin surfaces.
To the rear, the brooch fastens with the typical pin and ‘c’ clasp. As the images show, the ‘C’ has been bent to where the opening has been closed. Restoring function is a simple task that can be done with care using a small tool such as craft pliers.
Overall, condition of this exceptional, small jewel is extremely good for its more than two centuries, and it would make a fantastic addition – indeed be the star- of any Halley’s Comet, or celestial jewellery collection.
PRICE: £650
PRODUCT DETAILS
Dimensions: LENGTH: (EXCLUDING PIN):- 22mm WIDTH: (ACROSS HEAD):-9mm WIDTH: (ACROSS TAIL): 6mm
Weight: 1.49g
Origin: UNITED KINGDOM
Materials: YELLOW GOLD OF A MINIMUM 15ct/ TURQUOISE/ AMETHYST/ PEARL
Era: GEORGIAN
Age: c1810
This extraordinary one of a kind lace pin comet is tiny, yet rich with motifs of deeply symbolic personal meaning. Under an inch in length, this miniature brooch tells a story of remembrance and pledging of eternal Romantic love; contained within the classically Georgian shape representing both modernity and superstition: a questing, scientific mind, and traditional hopes and dreams combined;- the Halley’s Comet Brooch.
The ancient symbol of Ouroboros – the snake eating its own tail- representing eternity, and eternal life, was a significant image in Georgian Romantic symbolism, and the ancient association between snakes and serpents with worldly knowledge and sexuality formed their link with romantic love. Snakes with bodies entwined could mean both eternal love between living lovers, or signify the continuity of love beyond death.
The comet head is formed of a stylised Forget-Me-Not flower; a popular later Georgian romantic motif that commonly features on rings with a tiny hair locket verso. These were given as gifts between lovers as mementoes. The motifs combined in this exceptional jewel lead me to conclude this piece was ordered made (all jewellery in this period was handmade to commission, making this piece a completely unique one of a kind) as a romantic gift, perhaps signifying a betrothal, and/or given as a gift of remembrance to his lover, by a young man who was going away, perhaps to war – the Napoleonic Wars were taking place around the time this brooch was made- or to complete his education on the ‘grand tour’ of Classical Europe; making this a wonderfully romantic jewel powerfully representative of the Georgian mind.
The period in which the lovers, whose passion for one another in this exciting jewel lived, bridged the gap between the old world and the new, between the superstitious and the scientific, and the weight of all that historical and cultural significance is embodied within this tiny, unique, and wholly one-of-a-kind brooch.