Mellerio Gold Snake Bracelet

Price range: (> 50 000 zł)

This bracelet is absolutely unique on the antique jewelry market. The piece was created in the first half of the nineteenth century and is a perfect example of the extraordinary craftsmanship of the goldsmiths of old. The spindly, resilient, braided form made of thin woven gold wires, forms the body of a snake. Its head is beautiful engraved and decorated with a sapphire and diamond rosettes with naturalistic elements in the form of nostrils, eyes, tongue and teeth, which contrasts with the almost smooth tip of the tail, on which there are French hallmarks from 1840. The bracelet includes a matching case from Mellerio dits Meller 9. Rue de la Paix Paris. 

Why is it truly unique? 

In 1839 Prince Albert proposed to Queen Victoria. As an engagement gift for his future wife, she received a ring in the shape of snake. Since then, the popularity of this motif has been growing and continues to this day. The snake symbolizes wisdom, longevity, health, infinity. All this has made the most prominent jewelry houses try to outdo each other in designs with a snake motif. One of the oldest jewelry houses in the world, Mellerio dits Meller, also probably ran in the race and won by producing this absolute work of art. 

Mellerio

The history of this Italian jewelry family begins as early as 1515, when the first members of the family came to France from norther Italy – the Vigezzo Valley – with the intention of trading in precious objects. On October 10, 1614, Maria Medici, regent on the French throne, granted special privileges to these eminent goldsmiths. In 1830, Mellerio became the official jeweler of King Lous-Philip I and his family. As they gained recognition with numerous awards at fairs and exhibitions, they won more eminent customers, including  the Spanish Queen Isabella II in 1867and the Dutch Queen Emma in 1888. Today, the company is managed by the fourteenth generation of the Mellerio family, in 2013 they celebrated their 400th anniversary, and have their headquarters at the Rue de la Paix in Paris. Mellerio is the last independent family-owned jewelry company. 

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