Featured Silver bear pendant, very old?

This pendant (not mine) sold on eBay a couple of weeks ago. The design of the bear looks really old to me, and though the seller didnt see it there is text around the outside of the bear head.

I think i can see FOR 500 YEARS on the left side and I HAVE SERVED on the right. The rest is too blurred.

Maybe someone has seen something similar?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/134322641862

 

Narasimha???

 

A lion?

 

No idea. There are age marks on the back, but not the front. it doesn't read as old to me, but I've been fooled before.

 

Looks like a cartoon character to me. Does the fleur de lis on the crown/tiara tell us anything?

 

Crowned lion can be an Ethiopian symbol (Lion of Judah). Could the writing around the pentagon be Amharic?

 

It looks like the London leopard to me, which was crowned for centuries and lost its crown in 1822. At least on silver marks.
It could "have served" with crown for 500 years, and maybe this roughly cast pendant is based on a 14th century one.

@Ownedbybear , what do you think?

 

I've been staring at this. It's familiar: something I've seen a larger version of. And yes, the London lion. It may yet come to me.

 

Keep staring.

 

He's odd looking and smiling! Are you sure it isn't a dog? Lions don't smile, do they?

 

Yes, they do, just like they wear crowns.

 

He's typical of a mediaeval lion.

 

I've seen similar somewhere too.

 

I'd kinda like to see it all polished up.

 

Since I'm here, will go ahead and post the information already provided via message - it says, "I HAVE SERVED THE LONDON ASSAY OFFICE FOR 500 YEARS":

https://www.lot-art.com/auction-lot...lm-Appleby/71-sterling_silver-27.7.22-sworder




~Cheryl

 

you so good !!
always can count upon your say so !!!!

 

IOW, his main audience will be silversmiths and silver collectors.

 

Good call!

 

NO wonder he looked familliar!

 

Thank you for finding that Cheryl!