1980s UK Legacy Heart Necklace, Copper Filigree Necklace, New Unused, Christmas Gift Box

The heart shape is widely recognized as a symbol of love, though its origins are not definitively known. The earliest discovered heart-shaped motif was found in the Indus Valley Civilization, as a pendant made from a fig leaf. Additionally, the heart shape bears a strong resemblance to the leaves of the water lily, which in ancient Indian culture symbolized fertility. The fruit pod of the silphium plant also closely resembles the heart shape; in ancient Roman times, this plant was used as an aphrodisiac, suggesting it might be another possible source for the modern heart symbol. The first known work to use the heart shape to represent the heart appeared in the 13th-century French love story, "Le Roman de la Poire" (The Romance of the Pear). Later, with the popularity of playing cards, the heart symbol, representing hearts, gained further traction. By the 17th century, the heart shape had become synonymous with the heart and, concurrently, a symbol of love. Perhaps due to its recognizability, ease of replication, and universally appealing meaning, the heart shape has remained a constant in women's fashion since the 18th century. In the 18th century, court ladies would cut silk into heart shapes and apply them to their faces to accentuate their features. Following the popularization of Valentine's Day cards by printers in the 19th century, the heart immediately became the emblem of Valentine's Day. Marilyn Yalom, former director of the Stanford University's center for the study of women and gender, pointed out that the heart shape, as a relatively abstract symbol, can sometimes express inner feelings more effectively than concrete words. "The heart might just be a symbol, but it's very useful, especially when love itself is such a difficult concept to define," Yalom stated. "In every era, men and women have sought words to describe their experiences: affection, emotion, infatuation, dependence, intimacy, romance, desire, or true love. And when words fall short, we turn to symbols."