Antique Animal Jewelry

Baroque Pearl Lizard Brooch

We love this quirky lizard brooch. The long, curved baroque pearl is set and gold and accented with enamel and diamonds. This heirloom resides in Florence, Italy at the Museo degli Argenti (Silver Museum) in the Palazzo Pitti.

Emerald and Diamond Dragonfly Brooch

This is probably my favorite piece of this collection because I am partial to dragonflies and other Art Nouveau insects. This dragonfly dates to the late 19th century around 1875 and features emeralds, diamonds and a magnificent pearl. The creature resides in State United Museum Centre in the Kremlin, Moscow.

Enamelled Stork and Snake Brooch

This Art Nouveau masterpiece is as creepy as it is beautiful. The enameled gold brooch depicts a snake wrapped around a stork. The enameling on this piece is perfect which was a common jewelry art from around 1900 when this heirloom was made.

Golden Snake Wrap Bracelet

This piece is ancient and depicts a snake. Snakes and serpents have historically been symbols for rebirth and fertility. The wrap bracelet dates back to the Roman civilization and raised in Naples, Italy at the muse Archeologico national (archaeological museum).

Enamel and Diamond Snake Brooch

This Victorian brooch depicts a knotted snake. Snakes were very fashionable during this era and were commonly knotted like this brooch is. The gold, enamel and diamond brooch dates to about 1840.

Gemstone Butterfly Brooch

Butterflies have been a symbol of hope and all things beautiful. This intricate butterfly-shaped gold brooch is set with colorful green and red gems and dates between 1880-1890. The brooch currently resides in a private collection.

Bejeweled Baroque Pearl Ox

Oxen have played a major part in Chinese mythology and are often viewed as a symbol of confidence. This art piece is made of gold and set with a perfectly shaped baroque pearl, rubies, emeralds. The piece dates earlier than the Georgian Era around 1590 and resides in Florence, Italy at the Museo degli Argenti (Silver Museum).

Baroque Pearl and Gem Rooster Pendant

Roosters are symbols of intelligence and insight. They aren’t incredibly common in recent antique jewelry eras. This enameled gold pendant is set with pearls, diamonds, and rubies. The poster holding caduceus which could also give this heirloom healing and protection. This piece dates to about 1580 and can be found at the Museo degli Argenti (Silver Museum) in Florence, Italy.

Baroque Pearl and Diamond Tortoise

I love this tortoise! Like the Tortoise and the Hare, their symbolism is all about perseverance and patience. This cute animal jewelry piece is set in gold set with a large, rounded baroque pearl and diamond eyes. This heirloom is at the Museo degli Argenti (Silver Museum) in Florence, Italy.

Enameled Gold and Silver Butterfly

Butterflies weren’t limited to the Victorian and Art Nouveau eras. This enameled gold and silver jewel shaped butterfly dates around 1630.

Diamond and Ruby Snake Brooch

This glistening snake from a private collection dates to the late 19th century and is set with gorgeous, well-matched rubies and diamonds.

Ancient Scarab Bracelet

Who’s ready for a really old piece of animal jewelry? This scarab bracelet is from Tutankhamun’s tomb and dates to the 14th century BC! The tomb was discovered in 1922, and all the jewelry and items inside remained intact, which was quite rare due to thieves stealing all the precious jewelry in the thousands of years preceding that time.

The bracelet is from the collection of the Egyptian National Museum in Cairo, Egypt.

Ancient Gold Snake Bracelet

Here’s another really old heirloom. This ouroboros snake dates back to ancient Rome in the 1st century. Ouroboros or snakes that are eating their tales symbolize eternal life and rebirth.

Baroque Pearl Turtle Brooch

This title brooch dates around the mid to late 19th century. The designer is Johann Karl August. You can find the brooch at the State United Museum Centre in the Kremlin, Moscow.

Fabergé Bulldog Pendant

This small bulldog dates to the late 19th century and was made by iconic jewelry design house, Fabergé in Russia.

The dog can be found at the State United Museum Centre in the Kremlin, Moscow.