18th Century Saturn Pendant
An excellent antique pendant carved, from a single piece of coral, to depict the Roman god Saturn. Dating from the 18th century, somewhere around 1750, it was likely carved in the small costal town of Torre del Greco in the Kingdom of Naples, where, riding the wave of Neoclassisim, such pieces were produced as souvenirs for European aristocrats on their 'Grand Tours'. It has gold fittings and presents the god with a long, pointed beard and prominent, deeply lined forehead.
Coral was believed to have protective and mystical properties - thought to ward off evil, ensure health, and provide luck - thus the carving of coral into mythological motifs blended its protective qualities with the symbolism of the particular deity. In this case, Saturn (or Cronus to the Greeks), perhaps marks the passage of time, or the inevitability of change - a theme that surely resonated in 18th century intellectual and philosophical thought.
Described by the Roman poet Catallus as 'the best of all days', the week-long festival of Saturnalia was celebrated to honour Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture and the harvest. Saturn was believed to have ruled over a simpler and more peaceful time in the distant past, known as the Golden Age, and Saturnalia was celebrated in this spirit. A particularly interesting part of the fun was the way in which societal norms and hierarchies were temporarily turned on their head, where slaves feasted like their masters and could speak freely without fear of punishment. Citizens and slaves alike revelled in this opportunity to run wild and used the time to speak, dress, drink and gamble without restraint.
Era: Georgian, circa 1780
Size: 26.9mm (including bail) by 12.1mm
Stone: Coral
Marks: None, bail tested as 9ct gold
Condition: Good, light/general wear consistent with age
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Condition
We offer detailed and accurate condition reports on each listing. These pieces are antique, vintage, or pre-loved, often over 100 years old so they're going to have lived a life. A healthy patina and the odd scuff/scrape are quite normal... it's part of their charm! Everything we present has been checked over by our jeweller and should be good for wear for many years to come (unless otherwise stated) but please remember to treat them with appropriate care and consideration for their age.
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