Victorian sterling silver, lava, and jade coiled snake brooch

Description : Lava jewelry often comes from the area in Italy where Mt. Vesuvius is located on the Gulf of Naples in Campania. The first known eruption was in 79 AD where Pompeii was destroyed. The city was discovered with others that were buried in 1748. Lava was a popular choice for jewelry in the late 1800's because of the fascination for Italy and the trend for 'Grand Tour' travelers. Snakes were very popular motifs in the time of Queen Victoria as she received a snake ring for her marriage proposal from Prince Albert. The heart in the mouth of a snake means risky love, and being 'captivated'. This brooch has a very animated coiled snake with a nephrite jade heart. Jade is an alternative birthstone for March and August. Item Number : P24747 Category : PIN Brand : CF