Gemological Flora and Fauna
MORE INFORMATION
Published on
08.03.2022
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Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim Collections
Parrot pendant
Gold, diamonds, rubies, pearls, enamel
Southern Germany
About 1560–1570
Donation of the Werner Wild Foundation
Photography by Günther Meyer
The parrot pendant, which is richly decorated with gold, diamonds, rubies and pearls, was crafted in the second half of the 16th century in southern Germany, possibly in Augsburg. The colourful bird is surrounded by a white hare, a snail and a bee. The pendant was likely a wedding gift, as parrots are known to mate for life, thus symbolizing marital fidelity.
The rubies themselves symbolize love, while the flowering branches are redolent of abundant fertility. Beyond the parrot itself, other fauna include the bee as a symbol of hard work and the snail as a reflection of domesticity.