1920-1940s antique sterling silver marcasite Stone bow heart-shaped necklace [graduation gift]

Marcasite jewelry has been made since ancient Greek times and became popular in Europe during the reign of Louis XIV, but it was not until Queen Victoria herself wore it during the Victorian era (1837-1901) that designers began to use marcasite frequently. When public display of diamonds was banned in Switzerland in the 18th century, marcasite emerged as a substitute, along with cutting steel. After the death of Prince Albert in 1861, when Queen Victoria entered a period of mourning and ordered the entire court to wear black and avoid extravagant jewelry, marcasite became popular as a sober alternative to the aristocracy. Marcasite has its own historical value. After all, this sparkling Gemstone has adorned many members of the royal family from Cleopatra to Queen Victoria, understated and beautiful marcasite jewelry is a must-have in any collection. And emotionally, marcasite is thought to be a treasure that protects you from negative emotions, encourages introspection and increased self-confidence, reduces burnout, and inspires artistic creativity. 🎀Bows originated in Europe during the "Battle of the Palatine" in the Middle Ages. Many soldiers used silk scarves around their necks to fix the collars of their shirts. This scene was keenly captured by Louis XIV, the fashion leader at the time. He used ingenuity to design the bow tie. This kind of bow tie was soon introduced from France to England, and then spread throughout Europe, becoming a symbol of nobility and elegance. The heart-shaped symbol is regarded as a symbol of love, but its origin is unknown. The earliest heart-shaped pattern found in the world is the fig leaf pendant found at the Indus Valley Civilization site. In addition, the heart shape is also very similar to the shape of the water lily leaves, and was regarded as a symbol of fertility in ancient Indian civilization. The pod shape of compass grass (silphium) is also very similar to the shape of a heart. In ancient Roman times, this plant was used as an aphrodisiac, so it may also be one of the sources of the modern heart shape. The earliest work to use the heart-shaped symbol to represent the heart is the 13th-century French love story "Le Roman de la Poire" (Le Roman de la Poire). Later, with the popularity of playing cards, the heart-shaped symbol representing hearts also became more popular. By the 17th century, the heart-shaped symbol had completely become synonymous with the heart and also a symbol of love. Perhaps because of its easily identifiable, replicable and endearing nature, the heart shape has never disappeared from women’s fashion since the 18th century. In the 18th century, court ladies would cut silk into the shape of hearts and paste them on their faces to emphasize their facial features. In the 19th century, after printers began selling Valentine's Day cards, hearts immediately became the symbol of Valentine's Day. Marilyn Yalom, former director of the Institute of Women and Gender at Stanford University, once pointed out that the heart shape, as a relatively abstract symbol, can sometimes express people's inner feelings better than specific words. "Love may be just a symbol, but it's very useful, especially since love itself is a difficult concept to define." Marilyn Yalom said, "No matter what era, men and women have tried to find words to describe their experiences: love , emotion, obsession, dependence, intimacy, romance, desire or true love, and when words are not enough, we look for symbols.”