Early 19th Century Brass and Onyx Stone Watch Key

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An early 19th century brass watch key with an Onyx oval stone set at the top. The head is florally … Read more An early 19th century brass watch key with an Onyx oval stone set at the top. The head is florally decorated. The measurements are 4 cm high and oval it is 1.7 cm x 1.1 cm. The weight is 7.2 grams (1 inch = 2.54 cm). In the 18th and the first half of the 19th century the color rather than the stone was of symbolic significance. Where there is a clear divergence between the gem books of the ancients and those of the medieval writers in terms of interpretation, the medieval writers stand firmly in the classical eastern tradition of color symbolism. This imagery was linked to belief in gems, astrolysis and the language of flowers, and its use in both sacred and secular contexts led to rigid interpretations that are still current today. All the colors of precious stones and also all the colors of glass paste and enamel have a continental meaning that already existed in the late medieval Lent game "Die siben Farb" ("The seven shades") Red- Love Blue- Constancy White - Hopeful love Black- Mourning Brown- Connected in love Green- Free from love (Text from our collection, Book Watch-Keys by Nicolaus Gunther, page 50). Wear consistent with age and use. See less