Emma Hawkins: A Natural World

Three gold-mounted coral pendants, Italy and England, possibly 17th century and later

Restricted Species

Lot Closed

January 19, 02:32 PM GMT

Estimate

2,000 - 3,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

Three gold-mounted coral pendants, Italy and England, possibly 17th century and later

the first, a gold-mounted precious pink coral pendant, probably Italian, possibly 17th century, carved in the shape of an arm and a hand, wearing a turquoise cabochon-set ring and holding a group of carved coral lucky charms on a gold hoop, the gold mounts with filigree decoration, apparently unmarked; the second a gold-mounted red coral pendant, probably Thomas Hitchman, London, 1796, fully hallmarked, the third a gold-mounted black coral pendant, apparently unmarked

gold and silver

This lot contains endangered species. Sotheby's recommends that buyers check with their own government regarding any importation requirements prior to placing a bid. For example, US regulations restrict or prohibit the import of certain items to protect wildlife conservation. Please note that Sotheby's will not assist buyers with the shipment of this lot to the US. A buyer's inability to export or import these lots cannot justify a delay in payment or sale cancellation. Please also note that the third pendant contains black coral.

According to Historical sources, some of the most renowned masters of coral were the Jews working in Trapani, a small community of artisans relocated to Naples over the course of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. By 1600, fleets of special coral boats called carolline sailed daily from Naples to port of Torre del Greco to satisfy the increased demands. During the 1800’s English nobles on their “Grand Tours of Europe made Naples an obligatory stop, gobbling up corals and ancient cameos, which made their way into British private collections.

For centuries red coral amulets in Europe dates to at least ancient Rome, when it was believed that wearing branches of coral warded off the evil eye and cured sterility. Pliny the Elder is said to have recommended coral to protect against lighting strikes and temptresses.

Children in Italy in the middle ages were given a coral amulets to wear or a coral rattle to use as a teething ring, as pieces of Coral were thought to have apotropaic properties that could ward of the evil eye (malocchio). Or in Spain an amulet of 1800 was given to protect for casual dangers.

The Ancient Romans believed that red coral was the hardened blood of Medusa, who died in the sea when Perseus killed her. Coral amulets can be seen in Depictions of Christ child ( Dal Ponte’s Christ Child ) & (Masaccio’s Madonna and Child 1426 ). These beliefs persist today.