Victorian Silver & 15kt Horse Bloodstone Figural Fob

A fob is an adornment or a seal that hangs from the ribbon or chain of a pocket watch. Its purpose is to decorate or add weight to the watch chain itself making it easier for the watch to be withdrawn from a pocket. The fob would have been used to seal the wax of a letter or note. The opposite of a cameo, an intaglio is created by carving below the surface to produce and image in relief with the purpose of pressing into sealing wax, often used in signet rings.

A rare and unusual figural fob from the Victorian (ca1880) era! Made of vibrant silver and 15kt yellow gold, this incredible English piece has exquisite detail and a very artistic design. At the top of the piece is a three-dimensional representation of a jockey that rides atop a galloping horse. The detail is incredible, including a full jockey uniform including a buttoned jacket and tailcoat, jockey cap, and shoes with spurs. The horse is dressed with a saddle and reins, and has two red stones depicting its eyes. At the base of the fob is a bloodstone seal, which is bezel set and has the intaglio image of a Latin inscription: "Quantum in rebus inane" ("how much futility in the world"). The bloodstone has a beautiful deep green color flecked with orange and white specks. The overall detail of the fob is simply exceptional, and the unusual design displays excellent Victorian craftsmanship. Figural fobs are very unusual and this one is particularly stunning! Both beautiful and unique, this wonderful piece is a must-have for any fob collector!

Measurements: The fob hangs 1 1/4" long, measures 1 1/4" wide, and is approximately 3/8" thick.

Condition: The overall condition of the fob is excellent. Besides normal surface wear, there is no apparent damage to the silver and gold setting or bloodstone seal, which is intact.