A mystery amethyst snake necklace, from a house in the Windermere area, sold for £22,500 at auction.
The jewel encrusted snake was put up for sale by family members who never knew of its existence until the house was emptied when its owner died, said 1818 Auctioneer’s silver and jewellery valuer, Jackie Rothwell.
Jackie said the early 20th century serpent collarette necklace wass covered with amethysts on an articulated links which give its slithery appearance.
The head of the snake had emerald eyes and was covered in amethysts and rose cut diamond chips.
Tested as being of gold and silver it was sold in its original case with a receipt from Byworth Antiques, London dated 1974.
Jackie said it went to a trade bidder at well over its original estimate of £5,000 to £8,000.
“The family who are selling it say they’ve never seen it being worn or know how the owner came to have it,” said Jackie.
“Serpent jewellery became very popular in the Victorian era when 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.”
