Natural pearl, ruby and turquoise necklace, mid 19th Century - Sotheby's

Designed as a graduated series of coiled snake links set with cabochon turquoises and pearls, five suspending natural baroque pearl drops, the eyes set with cabochon rubies, length approximately 430mm, fitted case. Estimation: 3,000 - 5,000 GBP. Lot. Vendu 26,250 GBP

NOTE DE CATALOGUE: Accompanied by The Gem & Pearl Laboratory report no. 06279, stating that the pearls were found to be natural, saltwater.

Snakes have often been used as a popular motif in jewellery, in some instances it is worn as a talisman to ward off evil and if the tail is held in the snake's mouth, the ouroborus, it is symbolic of eternity or everlasting love.

Sotheby's. The Jewellery Collection of the Late Michael Wellby: An Eclectic Eye - Jewels Spanning Four Centuries. London | 11 déc. 2012 www.sothebys.com