| |
MANO FICO PROTECTIVE HAND PENDANT 18K GOLD VERMEIL STERLING SILVER, SHELL & DIAMOND
|
|
| |
Item # |
: |
183 0649
|
|
| |
Type of carving |
: |
Natural white Mother-of-Pearl shell carving pendant (amulet / charm)
|
|
| |
Design |
: |
Exceptionally fine and realistic carved human hand design wearing a bracelet set with a genuine gemstone ~ 3-dimensional carving.
The hand is mounted in a beautiful 18K Gold Vermeil magic symbol design setting.
|
|
| |
Material |
: |
Genuine natural white Mother-of-Pearl shell and 18K Gold Vermeil over genuine solid Sterling Silver ~ 18K gold-plated / 3-microns.
The bracelet is set with a genuine natural Diamond gemstone.
|
|
| |
Gemstone |
: |
The bracelet is set with a genuine natural champagne white Diamond gemstone ~ round 1.8 mm diameter, brilliant cut in excellent quality with just minor natural inclusions (si) ~ from South Africa
|
|
| |
Plating |
: |
Very thick and durable ~ 3-microns 18K yellow Gold Vermeil over solid 925 Sterling Silver
|
|
| |
Amount |
: |
1 (one) individual piece
* All photos are taken from the actual item *
|
|
| |
Weight |
: |
approx. 9.70 grams
|
|
| |
Size |
: |
Length / height: approx. 42.27 mm = 1.66 inches
Width: approx. 12.76 mm
Depth: approx. 12.22 mm
All measurements are taken at the widest points
|
|
| |
Bail |
: |
This Mano Fico pendant has a bail inside diameter of 7.60 mm diameter and will fit a chain, rope or cord with a diameter of 7.50 mm
The cord shown in the photos is for display only and is not included.
|
|
| |
Origin |
|
The shell originates from Sumbawa Island / Indonesia ~ hand-carved in Bali by our in-house master craftsmen.
The silverwork is handmade by out in-house master silversmiths.
|
|
| |
Color |
: |
Pearly cream white, Gold and champagne white
|
|
| |
Quality |
: |
Excellent deep and finely carved natural shell and new handmade gold-plated Sterling Silver design
|
|
| |
Treatment |
: |
None ~ 100 % natural shell and natural color without any enhancements
|
|
| |
Hand-crafted |
: |
Our jewelry are made using ancient traditional techniques. Each piece is handmade and is not a machine mass produced item.
Each piece, silver parts and carvings are made one by one which make each piece a one-of-a-kind.
|
|
| |
Hallmark stamp |
: |
This Sterling Silver pendant is hallmark stamped 925.
|
|
| |
Mano Fico |
; |
THE MANO FICO (FIG HAND)
The Mano Fico, also called figa, is an Italian amulet of ancient origin. Examples have been found from the Roman era, and it was also used by the Etruscans. Mano means "hand" and fico or figa means "fig," with the idiomatic slang connotation of a woman's genitals.
Whether made as an apotropaic gesture or worn as an amulet, the Mano Fico is used for magical protection against the evil eye. In this it resembles other hand gestures and hand images that ward off evil, including the Hamsa hand, the eye-in-hand, the Mano Cornuta (horned hand), and the interlocked thumb gesture. A regionally popular amulet, it is primarily found in Italy and in America among descendants of Italian immigrants. It also shows up on a Peruvian package amulet and in a South American charm vial, both reflecting colonial European influences.
The Mano Fico (fig hand, properly, ‘mano fica’) is an ancient obscene gesture, and is also one of the better known protective gestures against the evil eye. The thumb and fist gesture is an ancient representation of sexual union. The name is from the Italian word for the female vulva, fica, meaning fig (and also the origin of a well-known English obscenity).
The fig was associated by the Romans with female fertility and eroticism; the fruit was sacred to Bacchus. The gesture is used against the evil eye in the belief that an obscenity serves as a distraction to evil, even that demons are so repelled, that they flee at the sign.
|
|
| |
Definition Mother-of-Pearl |
: |
Mother-of-Pearl is produced by the Pinctada maxima mollusk ~ the South Sea pearl oyster
They are currently cultured in areas throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans, primarily in Indonesia, Australia and the Philippines.
These waters are the native habitat of a large oyster known as Pinctada maxima. This oyster grows up to 12 inches in diameter and much larger than other saltwater oysters
There are two varieties of Pinctada maxima, the silver-lipped and the gold-lipped. The two are distinguished by their distinct coloration of the outer edge of the interior. This type of shell is known as mother-of-pearl, and is responsible for the coloration of the cultured pearls produced, therefore the name.
|
|
| |
What is Gold Vermeil? |
: |
VERMEIL, which is pronounced "vehr-MAY," is 925 Sterling Silver with is plated with Gold.
Vermeil is a combination of Sterling Silver and Gold commonly used as a component in jewelry. A typical example is Sterling Silver coated with 18K or 24K Gold. To be considered VERMEIL, the gold must be at least 10 karats (42%) and be at least 2.5 micrometers thick. In the US and various other countries, Sterling Silver covered first with a base metal (such as nickel) and then plated with Gold cannot be sold as vermeil without disclosing that it contains base metal.
The word "VERMEIL" is a French word which came into use in the English language, mostly in America, in the 19th century as an alternative for the usual term silver-gilt.
Vermeil can be produced by either fire-gilding or electrolysis. The original fire-gilding process was developed in France in the mid-18th century; however, France later banned the production of vermeil because over time artisans developed blindness due to mercury involved in the process. Today, VERMEIL is produced by electrolysis which is much safer than fire gilding yet produces a very similar result
The White House has a collection of vermeil tableware kept on display (when not in use) in the Vermeil Room.
The Code of Federal Regulations 16, Part 23.5 defines Vermeil: "An industry product may be described or marked as 'vermeil' if it consists of a base of Sterling Silver coated or plated on all significant surfaces with Gold or Gold alloy of not less than 10 karat fineness, that is of substantial thickness and a minimum thickness throughout equivalent to two and one half (2 ½) microns (or approximately 1/10000ths of an inch) of fine Gold."
Less than 2.5 microns is NOT Vermeil and is considered as simple Gold plating only.
Vermeil Jewelry
Vermeil is a more expensive version of Gold plated jewelry. It consists of a 925 Sterling Silver base that is coated or plated with Gold.
And again, if the longest lifespan is in the first place for you, your option is VERMEIL
Vermeil is much more durable than simple very thin gold plating.
No wonder that the price is also high.
Gold plated jewelry
Gold plating is the term used to describe the process of plating jewelry made of either precious (silver) or non-precious base metal (zinc, nickel, copper) with a thin layer of gold, which is depositing by electrochemical methods. As it was said the layer is very thin and thus easy to scratch. It also naturally wears thin with time, exposing the metal below.
|
|
| |
Remarks |
: |
This 18K Gold Vermeil over solid 925 Sterling Silver pendant is absolutely marvelous and made with exceptional detail.
The condition is new and excellent.
Don’t miss this opportunity to own this beautiful pendant
(charm / amulet) |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
