Featured Horn snake bracelet- is this really Victorian?

Hi all! I just picked up a cute bangle for myself today at the brocantes and wondering about its age and origin...


Not planning to sell but I like to know what I have ; ) I think it's horn (and missing its eyes) but aside from that, Google image search comes up with a bunch of results that say it's Victorian - is that right? I thought tourist jewelry more likely.

The seller told me it was wood (which it definitely is not as it's translucent) so not much help. Any thoughts very welcome! Thanks for looking

 

I’d think nineteenth into early twentieth, snakes were a big thing. Very symbolic. The eyes ought to be easy to replace.

 

Thank you OBB! I wouldn't have thought it was so old ... though I could see it working beautifully with a flapper ensemble!

 

Looks like horn to my eye too.

Debora

 

Here's one in horn for comparison. Important to know... Eyes are mother of pearl.

https://risestreetmarket.com/products/victorian-snake-carved-horn-bracelet

Debora

 

Lovely bangle, Kylie. A symbol of eternity and new beginnings. I always love them and buy them if the price is right. And yes, 19th century, but I have no idea where they were made, they pop up all over the place.

It looks very dry, and could do with some olive oil to prevent cracking or breaking.

They are always horn, and the eyes are usually shell, bone, or black horn on the blonde ones.
Small black glass beads will do as replacement eyes (glass eyes).

 

Thank you all so much for your expertise and advice @Debora @Ownedbybear @Any Jewelry ! I wasn't thinking it would be very old or worth much (I paid 3 euros from a semi-pro brocanteuse so not big bucks) I just liked look of it...I'm glad to find it has some history to it!

I will give it an oil and have a play around with eye options too - it might try to find some teensy mother of pearl beads, but I will oil it first to see what the colour looks and try to contrast. I think it will go darker so black might get a little lost - but I suppose it depends what I can find bead-wise.

Just one final question: The eyes are just holes atm so no backing to them - how would you recommend fixing the new eyes in place?

 

Superglue, carefully applied to the insides of the holes. Insert the 'eye', and wipe off any excess glue.

 

These are lovely.
I always pick them up if I see them for that price range.
If they are a bit small for your wrist you can make them a bit wider by dropping them a few seconds in boiling water and immediately put them around a good fitted bottle.
The eye-tip is a good one I might use.
Thank you very much AJ

 

I’ve a later celluloid one with rhinestones, probably twenties.

Somewhere.

 

[QUOTE="Ownedbybear, post: 9505505, member: 29"
Somewhere.[/QUOTE]

 

Oh I have one of these too! But the tail is broken off on mine, yours is in very nice condition. I don't see too many of them around but always got the impression they were inexpensive tourist trinkets, but at this point fairly old. They are so darling. I've always wanted to find another but with the tail intact.

 

A fellow horn snake bangle addict!

 

Any Jewelry, I might indeed have a small collection of those
The less ornate ones without carved decorations are far more recent though. They are still being made in some places and they are sold to tourists.

 

I went along with AJ s tip to repair some of my snakes eyes with small pearls, but -as always when I start something- my hubby had a better idea: kneadable wood? Bois pétrissable!
It is exactly the right color and it works as a charm.
He filled the eyes of two of my snakes and they look exactly like they are supposed to. (One is old, one is new...you can clearly see which is which)
They now only need some drying and they are good to go. (I also gave them an olive oil rub).

 

I unearthed my snake bracelet collection...they seem to have multiplied when I was not looking.
I need help!

 

I thought about that too, but was worried about possible shrinkage. Needlessly, it appears. Looks perfect.
Kneedbaar hout is wood filler.

Happy slangetjes.

That happens when you put snakes together. Keep a look out for any eggs, they will hatch, and you'll have more of those pretty bangles.

Shall I give you my address?

 

Any Jewelry, you need to humidify the bangle a bit, apply woodfiller, scrape the excess off, let dry for an hour or so and they are ready to go.
No shrinking as far as I can see.
(Sorry, I just turned this forum into a DIY repair shop)

 

I thought it already was a DIY repair shop. Or did I join the wrong forum? Stop this forum, I want to get off!

 

A full nest of them!
wow, wow, WOOOWWW! I love the accumulation on your wrist
The petrissable wood is a thing I'll have to add to my arsenal for kyratisations...