Sterling Silver Fleur-de-Lis Pendant, Upcycled Antique, Lily Flower Mardi Gras Necklace, French Heraldic Style

The fleur-de-lis has been captivating people for thousands of years, and it isn't hard to see why. In French, fleur means flower and lis means lily. It's a stylized lily design which can be seen in the elegantly drooping petals. But this image is more than simply a floral design: for thousands of years it has meant life, light, and protection. It appears in heraldry, religious art, royal insignia, and architecture on nearly every continent, from ancient Mesopotamia to present-day New Orleans.

The original object behind this pendant was a watch pin. Popular from the late 1800s through the 1920s, watch pins were lapel pins with a small hook on the underside where a pendant watch would attach. The watch hung face-down from the pin and be lifted to read the time. They were practical objects, made with a jeweler's attention to delicate details, and predated the wristwatch, which eventually supplanted the lapel watch and the need for these pins. 

Cast in sterling silver from that original watch pin design, hallmarked Blue Piranha and stamped .925. The pendant measures just under 1¼ inches (3.2 cm) long and just under ¾ inch (1.9 cm) wide. Weight is 3 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: a gift for the Francophile, the history lover, the person who appreciates a symbol with staying power. A Mardi Gras piece that works year-round. A birthday for the woman who gravitates toward the classical.

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