Antique Heraldic Shield Pendant, Actions not Words Crest with Lion, Sterling Silver Talisman Protection

"Actions, not words." In Latin, "Facta non verba." The phrase is about as old as Roman public life, and it has never gone out of use.

The earliest written form of the idea is attributed to Cato the Elder, the 2nd-century BC Roman senator whose name became a byword for frugality, integrity, and the stubborn refusal to say one thing and do another. It's the motto of military units on both sides of the Atlantic. It still appears on walls, rings, and regimental colors. Two thousand years of use, and the phrase hasn't needed updating.

The pendant shows the lion with one paw raised, holding a shield. In heraldic tradition the lion in this posture signifies courage and readiness, the defender at the threshold. The shield it holds is the symbol of protection and honor, the thing a household pledges to the people under its care. The motto below the image closes the argument: what is pledged will be done.

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 the button is marked Firmin & Sons Ltd, London, the 20th-century mark of one of Britain's oldest button makers, a firm that held Royal Warrants from George III through every successive sovereign.

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 7 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 leads from the front and means what they say. The leader, the veteran, the one who respects those who walk their talk. A gift for the friend who shows up when it counts. The collector who believes in holding the line, keeping one's word, and acting with honor.

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