- Jewellers
- -
- Goldsmiths
- -
- Valuers
£495.00
Reference: SJ-FOB-26
A late nineteenth-century swivelling fob constructed with a scrolling surmount featuring a compass on one side and an intaglio agate on the other.
The subject depicts Cupid igniting an arrow on a pair of hearts accompanied by the motto “TA LUME LE FEU” (abbreviated for the French ‘ton lumière le fue’; “thy light the fire”. In this case, the engraver has chosen to represent the fire in a zone of concentrated colour to suggest heat.
The inclusion of the compass can be interpreted, using Knights Modern and Antique Gems (1828, T. Griffiths Publishers), as meaning “agitated yet constant”.
Love is naturally represented by Cupid and his traditional accoutrements, described by John Donne (1572-1631) in Variety
His sinewy bow, and those immortal darts
Wherewith he is wont to bruise resisting hearts.
15ct yellow gold. Chester hallmark, 1880.
18ct yellow gold hallmark. Chester 1915.
14ct gold. Continental, C:1900. Adice: Care should be taken whrn wearing, due to the age of the Intaglio.
We are happy to reserve this item for your viewing in our Wells store. Please leave us your details and availability below and let us handle the rest.