Vintage Snake Ring in White Gold with Diamonds by Aldo Gavarelli

For centuries, the snake has been one of the most ambiguous symbols in art history, and it appears relatively frequently in the history of jewelry. Since biblical times, it has been the cunning temptress of Eve, but at the same time—as the Ouroboros—a symbol of infinity. Even the ancient Romans wore snake-shaped jewellery; they regarded the reptile as a symbol of good health due to its association with the god Asclepius. By the 19th century, the allusion to the Fall was no longer the central theme. Especially from the middle of the century onward, snake-themed jewellery came to represent a promise of good fortune. This vintage ring, crafted in high-karat white gold, features the body of a snake winding its way around the finger. A total of seventeen small diamonds are set into the snake’s head. What is unusual is that the snake winds around the finger multiple times: this gives the ring a lovely width. The ring was crafted in Aldo Gavarelli’s workshop in Valenza, likely around 1965, and has been very good in terms of preservation to this day. It came to us from Munich.

Estimate:£1,493.45

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