Basilisk Stickpin by Riker Bros.
Basilisk Stickpin |
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A regal basilisk fiercely grasping a red stone perches atop this elegant Victorian stickpin. Beautifully crafted in 14kt gold, this miniature jewel dates from around 1890.
Basilisks, like griffins and other mythical creatures, often graced late Victorian jewels. Half bird and half serpent, basilisks were known during the Middle Ages for their venomous breath, deadly stare and ability to split stone with their touch. Needless to say they did not make good house pets! Cost: $445The back of the stickpin is pictured below. From the rear, you can see that the basilisk is solidly cast, creating a jewel that will last for at least another hundred years. The rear is hallmarked with an "R" above the curved blade of a saber and the 14kt gold mark. The "R" and saber is the hallmark of Riker Bros., a fine jeweler founded by William Riker in 1846.
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The late Victorians loved whimsical jewels with fantastic creatures. Here are few more examples, you may want to visit.
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