To Be Rather Than to Seem, Sterling Silver Motto Pendant, Swan, Crown, Heraldic Necklace

"To be, rather than to seem." or in Latin, "Esse quam videri." Cicero wrote it in his essay on friendship around 44 BC, in a passage about how few people actually want to be virtuous rather than simply appear so. It became a heraldic motto for families who cherished authenticity. In 1893, North Carolina adopted it as their state motto, chosen by a jurist who felt it expressed something essential about the character a state ought to aspire to, and it's still on the great seal.

On the face of the pendant a swan rises from a crown, the whole scene enclosed within a garter border. The swan in heraldic tradition carries associations of grace and inner worth, a beauty that runs deeper than the surface. The crown marks achievement, a standing that was earned on its own terms rather than inherited or performed. The garter surrounding the design is one of the oldest symbols in English heraldry, the encircling loop that signifies loyalty and the protection that comes from it. The protection that comes not from strength alone but from unwavering fidelity to the people under one's care. The entire image speaks to authenticity, honesty, and being who we really are: not appearance, but substance.

The pendant is cast from an antique livery button. These buttons were worn in the 18th and 19th centuries by soldiers, household staff, and royal servants, each one bearing the crest or insignia of the family they served. The back of this button is marked Superior Quality, a trade designation rather than a maker's name.

Cast sterling silver. Hallmarked Blue Piranha and .925.

This pendant measures 1½ inches (3.8 cm) long, and 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter, about the size of a U.S. quarter. Weight is 8.5 grams.

Each pendant is available without a chain. If you'd like to add one, I offer several lengths and styles, please choose from the options at checkout. Every chain comes with a 2-inch extender so you can vary the length.

Your purchase arrives gift boxed, presented in a soft pouch with a story card.

Good for: the person who takes their internal rather than external measure. A gift for the friend who leads with honesty in a world that rewards the opposite. A thoughtful memento for the one whose integrity is undeniable. A birthday for someone who values substance over appearance and lives accordingly.

Questions? Please message me. I'm happy to help.