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Antique Arts&Crafts Jade 18kGold 10 ProngSetDiamond&Gems ArmHand Amulet Pendant

About the Item

With elements of the cross-over late-Arts&Crafts and early-Art-Nouveau movements, this antique turn-of-the-century mottled-green jade amulet pendant is elaborately decorated in a Baroque-Revival style with 18K yellow gold, as well as with 10 multi-size prong-set European-or-rose-cut gems, including clear, green, mint, olive, and pale blue and yellow stones. The Victorian figurative pendant is an arm with fisted hand that gestures the insult of a thumb protruding between the index and middle fingers. Known as a figa in Italy, figue in France or higa in Spain, this type of ornament became popular in ancient Latin cultures to protect the wearer from evil spells. It was probably created by a goldsmith who emigrated from one of those countries to The States. This is the most ornate one that we have ever come across. For this 3.5-inch-long pendant, the goldsmith feminized the contemptuous design--beyond the jade marbling that is believed to soften male energy--with multiple elements: gold ruffles like lace; a dynamic arm cuff assembled from curvaceous gold segments with chasing beneath the colorful gems and with high-relief edges; twisted gold wires depicting a miniature openwork bracelet that features a prong-set European-cut demantoid garnet; and five gold veneers on the ends of the fingers suggest painted nails. Even the bail that is inset in the gold cap at the top of the arm is customized like lace. The only legible mark on the pendant is the "18K" stamp next to the bail.
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