Friday, February 1, 2013

Mastery of Design: A Good Luck Charm

Good Luck Charm
Unknown Origins
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
 
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II



I can’t tell you much more about this carved jewel than what it is. When and where it was made are not listed in the archives of the Royal Collection. However, it seems to me to be the sort of thing that Queen Victoria would have liked quite a lot. 


This pendant charm was considered to be “good luck.” Carved ivory takes the shape of an arm wearing pierced gold and enamel bracelets. The hand is posed in some sort of gesture of a crossed thumb and forefinger which must have signified something at one point. The forefinger is styled with a diamond ring on the middle finger and the shoulder is mounted with three pointed rubies. 




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