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The A-Z of Antique Jewellery Symbols
Jewellery is rich with symbolism and can be highly sentimental. Find below some of the recurring symbols or motifs you may spot in our collections and what they represent.
Acorn
Fertility, immortality, strength
Anchor
Offering guidance and strength
Angels
Hope, faithfulness. The Archangel Michael carries a sword, while the Archangel Gabriel carries a horn. Crying angels signify death and mourning. Cherubs are often used to represent children
Antlers
Strength
Arrow
Mortality, love
Axe
Duty (especially military)
Bear
Strength, guardian of the family
Bee
Organisation, efficiency, community spirit
Bells
Friendship over confrontation; if the bell rings it is believed to ward off evil spirits
Birds claw
Thinking / praying for you
Buckle
Protection, authority, victory
Butterfly
The soul. The three stages in a butterflies life cycle also takes on a religious meaning; the life of a caterpillar, death represented by a chrysalis and rebirth as a butterfly
Clasped hands
Friendship
Coral
Protection from evil, especialy when worn by children
Crescent
Female spirituality, moon Goddess, glory
Cross
Religion, Christian faith
Crown
Sovereign, authority, victory
Crown on heart
‘Ruler of my heart’
Dagger
Honour, justice
Dogs
Loyalty
Dove
Peace, Christain faith, Holy Spirit. Sometimes has an olive spring in its beak meaning hope
Eagle
Noble, strength, wisdom, courage, power
Eye
Protection
Faith, Hope & Charity
Symbolised by an anchor, heart and cross
Feathers
Obedience
Fish
Unity with Christ, Christian faith, generosity
Flowers
See bottom of page for list of meanings
Flying birds
The soul
Griffin
Bravery, vigilance
Hand
Friendship, sweetheart, for a loved one (male)
Harp
Heavenly worship, a bridge between heaven and earth. Also used to represent Ireland
Heart
Love, passion, charity. A crown on the heart symbolises ‘ruler of my heart’. A flaming heart means ‘passionate love’
Horseshoe
Good luck, protection from evil spirits
Keys
Guardian, authority. To enter somewhere, ie. heaven or your heart
Laurel leaves
Triumph, peace
Lizard
Surviving love (lizards were once believed to be fire-proof!)
Owl
Vigilance, wisdom
Peacock
Immortal, beauty, knowledge
Pearls
Teardrops
Phoenix
To rise again, re-birth
Shield
To defend
Skull
Death, mortality
Snail
To persevere
Snake
Everlasting love, wisdom
Spider
Wisdom, hard work recognised, prudent
Stag
Harmony, will fight if needed, honour
Star
Spirit, guidence
Sword
Honour and protect, crossed swords may indicate death on the battlefield
Sun
Power, glory, life giving, male God
Urn
Mourning, death – particularly for older adults
