I wanted to talk about jewellery that featured unusual animals or beasts. The first one, the brooch at the top of the post, is a French 18ct gold and pearl chimaera brooch. A chimaera is any fictional animal which is comprised of parts taken from different animals. Popular in jewellery in France between 1860 to 1880 as part of a revival of Renaissance jewellery, these brooches were called ‘broche-chimėre’. The chimaera is shown with the head of a lion, eagle wings, and body of a dragon. The detailing of the feathers and the beast’s skin is beautiful.

Sea creature?

The next piece of jewellery is a Victorian gold bracelet in the shape of a fish or reptile. The head is similar to a snake (and may be meant to be one) but to me it has broader jaws and a larger mouth. It looks like a dolphin or sea creature.

Gryphon intaglio

The third piece is a vintage 18ct gold signet ring with an amethyst intaglio. The intaglio is of a gryphon (or griffon), which is a mythical creature with the body, legs and tail of a lion and the wings, claws and head of an eagle.  It is a beautifully carved piece.

Sea creature intaglio

The last piece is also an intaglio signet ring and the beast on it may be intended to be a dolphin but it appears to have a spiny dorsal fin and a round spiky head. It looks dangerous but apparently in heraldry, the heraldic representation of a dolphin can be quite threatening. I still consider it to be beast-like.

Reference:

A C Fox-Davies, “A Complete Guide to Heraldry”, First published 1909, published on Gutenberg in 2012,  (https://www.gutenberg.org/files/41617/41617-h/41617-h.htm)