search_icon 0

Georgian Coral Charms

Georgian Coral Charms

$1,620.00

Description

DATE: Georgian, c. 1820

A cool antique pendant with a coral manu fica hand, amulet and a gold hand holding a heart. It dates from the Georgian era, circa 1820 and is crafted in 18k gold.

The Manu Fica (aka figa, fig hand, mano fico) is an ancient obscene gesture, intended to figuratively represent sexual union. It was used to ward of the Evil Eye, apparently on the assumption that evil can be repelled by obscenity; that even demons will flee from the notion of sex/reproduction. The fig (fica in Latin) was a fruit sacred to Bacchus, and associated by the Romans with female fertility and eroticism. Among Early Christians, the gesture was known as the manus obscena, or "obscene hand".

STONES

Coral

MEASUREMENTS 

Coral Hand: 22.7 x 6.8mm 

Amulet: 8.8 x 4.7mm

Gold Hand: 31.8 x 5.9mm

WEIGHT 

2.9g

MARKS 

No marks present, tests as 18k gold 

CONDITION 

Very good, light wear commensurate with age

instagram