1906 Edwardian ‘DEAREST’ Acrostic Snake Bracelet

A very rare and elegant turn-of-the-century Edwardian snake bracelet, crafted with a rich buttery 18k yellow gold, and set with a row of different precious gemstones to acrostically spell the word DEAREST:

(D)iamond
(E)merald
(A)methyst (tests as purple sapphire, which historically has also been called amethyst)
(R)uby
(E)emerald
(S)apphire
(T)opaz

The inside surface of the bracelet also bears the inscription: “Chic Nov-06” (i.e. November, 1906), suggesting this bracelet was likely gifted as a sentimental or romantic gesture. Several waves of archeological mania in the 18th and 19th centuries revived the snake as an ancient symbol for eternity. In the 1830s, Victorians began wearing snake jewelry as symbols of eternal love; this practice persisted well into the Art Nouveau period. Paired with the acrostic message ‘dearest’, this snake bracelet makes a very romantic gesture indeed.

It’s also worthwhile to note that the form and design of this bracelet is almost a direct adaptation of ancient Egyptian designs from classical antiquity. The simple, almost delicate warp-around form, with a waving and curving tail, is more slender than snake bracelets from the Victorian era. This departure can be attributed to the popularity of Egyptian and near eastern revival movements in European decorative arts between 1890 – 1910.