I just love snake jewellery and I am not surprised that they have continued to be depicted in jewellery since antiquity. The sinuous shape wraps around the finger, wrist or neck, or acts as a border around a brooch or pendant. Snake rings, earrings, necklaces, brooches and rings, they just keep coming. Once a year, I show you some snake jewellery so here are some for 2021.
The first snake is an antique ring from 1918. It has a number of coils wrapped into a wide ring, ending at the front with a snake head set with an amethyst. Snake rings were very popular in the 19th century and styles remained the same for at least the first half of that century, being rather delicate gem set coils. Later in the century, though, snake rings became heavier and thicker and were worn by both men and women. They became wider, with many loops wrapped around the finger, quite a move away from the delicate style earlier in the century.
The next snake is a vintage 18ct gold snake ring with a black spinel in its head. It has lovely etching around the head to represent its scales and in style reverts back to those popular in the early Victorian period.
Snake three and snake four are earrings and are quite a contrast too.
My third snakes are lovely vintage 9ct snake earrings with ruby eyes. There was quite a resurgence of snake jewellery produced in the 1960s and 1970s in the UK, all with lovely coils and ruby eyes.
The final snakes are from 1988 and are snake earrings in white gold and silver, with emerald eyes. There are a few tiny diamonds but they are hard to see in the photo.
So there are my snakes for the year and I already have my eyes on some more that I have to have.
navette jewellery 