Victorian Era Turquoise Snake Bracelet

Sculptural serpent bangle bracelet, in 9ct gold. Beautiful form pavé set in Persian turquoise with garnet eyes. English in origin. Circa 1890.

Button push clasp with safety chain. Small size. The interior circumference measures approximately 6." The broadest front swirl design measurement is approximately 1.25". 

Snake jewelry did not begin with Adam and Eve but appeared up in Pre-Christian religions and cultures. There are very few creatures that have been embraced by both religion and art.  Most of the others have fascinated mankind because of their impressive size or strength. Snakes, on the other hand, tend to be insignificant in appearance. Yet in the hierarchy of animals they have ranked so high that they have attained almost divine status.  All sorts of human character traits have been imputed to them, ranging from wisdom and prudence to guile and deceitfulness. Snakes arouse powerful emotional responses from one person to another.