Bracelet Centre
ca. 1840 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This carved jewel would originally have been the centre of a bracelet. It is set with the head of Medusa, wreathed in snakes held by two coral hands. In Greek mythology, Medusa was a monstruous figure, whose hair was formed of snakes and whose glance would kill the onlooker. According to legend, coral was formed from the blood of the severed head of Medusa, explaining perhaps the choice of this motif.
Coral is formed by the skeletons of marine creatures. It has been used in jewellery since antiquity. It was believed to protect the wearer against the evil eye and was often worn by small children or made into rosaries.
Most coral in Europe came from the sea around Naples and nearby Torre del Greco. In the 19th century it became a fashionable souvenir. This was partly because people could travel more once the Napoleonic wars had ended in 1815, but also due to the growing popularity of naturalistic jewellery in the 1850s.
Coral is formed by the skeletons of marine creatures. It has been used in jewellery since antiquity. It was believed to protect the wearer against the evil eye and was often worn by small children or made into rosaries.
Most coral in Europe came from the sea around Naples and nearby Torre del Greco. In the 19th century it became a fashionable souvenir. This was partly because people could travel more once the Napoleonic wars had ended in 1815, but also due to the growing popularity of naturalistic jewellery in the 1850s.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Carved coral with turquoise and gold bracelets |
| Brief description | Clasp, coral cameo of a Medusa head flanked by coral hands mounted with turquoise. Italy, about 1840 |
| Physical description | Clasp, carved coral cameo of Medusa head wreathed in gold snakes and flanked by coral hands mounted with turquoise, furnished with gold bracelets. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Mrs K. E. Sargent |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This carved jewel would originally have been the centre of a bracelet. It is set with the head of Medusa, wreathed in snakes held by two coral hands. In Greek mythology, Medusa was a monstruous figure, whose hair was formed of snakes and whose glance would kill the onlooker. According to legend, coral was formed from the blood of the severed head of Medusa, explaining perhaps the choice of this motif. Coral is formed by the skeletons of marine creatures. It has been used in jewellery since antiquity. It was believed to protect the wearer against the evil eye and was often worn by small children or made into rosaries. Most coral in Europe came from the sea around Naples and nearby Torre del Greco. In the 19th century it became a fashionable souvenir. This was partly because people could travel more once the Napoleonic wars had ended in 1815, but also due to the growing popularity of naturalistic jewellery in the 1850s. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.36-1961 |
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| Record created | August 24, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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