A jewel-encrusted snake necklace, from a house in the Windermere area, is expected to make up to £8,000 in an online auction.
Created in the 20th century and covered with amethysts on articulated links which give its slithery appearance, the serpent collarette necklace is being sold by family members who never knew of its existence until the house was emptied when its owner died.
The head of the snake, which has emerald eyes, is also covered in amethysts with rose cut diamond chips.
It is being sold on July 4 in its original case with a receipt from Byworth Antiques, London dated 1974.
Jacki Rothwell, silver and jewellery valuer at Milnthorpe-based 1818 Auctioneers, said: “The family who are selling it say they’ve never seen it being worn or know how the owner came to have it.
“Serpent jewellery became very popular in the Victorian era after Prince Albert gave Queen Victoria a snake engagement ring with an emerald, her birthstone, embedded in its head.
“People began to associate the snake motif with eternal love. The popularity of this type of jewellery continued through to the 1920’s as it matched the fluid lines and animal motifs of the Art Nouveau period.
“Snake jewellery was designed to wrap around fingers, wrists and necks and many, like this necklace, close with the mouth of the snake around the tail end. Designed as flexible coils they look like they are slithering round wrists or necks,” added Jackie.
