I'm in love with this super rare Regency fob, modelled in a fluted shape with seven graduated panels, each set onto the base with a gold ball. The panels all engraved wth our numbers, and above them, a star.
There is a gold ring on the base, engraved with days of the week, punctuated with stars, that swivels round the base so that you can align the day of the week with the date, thereby matching up all the other dates with their correct day.
So clever!
The carnelian base is carved with a three headed woman - Hecate
Hecate is the goddess of magic, crossroads, witchcraft, sorcery, ghosts, and necromancy in ancient Greek religion and mythology.
She is the daughter of Perses and Asteria, who is the twin sister of Leto.
Although Hecate is a member of the third generation of Titans, she sided with Zeus and his siblings during the Titanomachy.
As a result, she was highly honored by Zeus, who granted her influence over the Earth, the sky, and the Underworld.
A nocturnal figure, Hecate often resided in underground caves or in the Underworld itself. She was commonly invoked as a household deity to help ward off evil spirits. Hecate assisted Demeter in her search for her daughter Persephone after Hades abducted her, guiding Demeter’s path at night with her flaming torches. Following this, she frequently accompanied Persephone on her annual journey to and from the realm of the dead.
In later depictions, Hecate is portrayed as a woman with three heads, which are thought to represent the past, present, and future.
Her attendants included the Empousa, a species of man-eating monsters that appeared vampiric, featuring one leg made of solid bronze and the other leg resembling that of a donkey. Often identified with the goddesses Artemis and Selene, Hecate is also seen as a symbol of the harvest moon.
Her sacred symbols include a pair of torches, keys, and daggers, while animals such as the serpent, polecat, and dog were considered sacred to her. She was typically worshipped alongside Demeter and Persephone. Hecate's Roman counterpart is Trivia.
Measures 43mm high, diameter of the base - 27.4mm
weighs - 17.5g
gold cased
English circa 1830
In excellent condition
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Antique Animal Jewelry
Georgian & Victorian Jewelry
£0.00Price
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