Farm bird Apotropaic magic

Farm bird Apotropaic magic. 18 Karat Gold, Platinum, Diamond and Ruby Rooster Brooch, Oscar Heyman & Brothers

Farm bird Apotropaic magic.
Many birds were seen as being endowed with apotropaic magic. Ancient Greeks and Romans believed that the image of a chicken – amulet against the evil eye, as well as a chicken egg. Egg amulet is known in almost all cultures, stone eggs are found even in before-Neolithic graves. In Europe, as a talisman and amulet since ancient times were used the so-called bone desires – V-shaped chicken or turkey breast bone, both present in the form of pendants, and brooches, trinkets of gold and silver. A variety of necklaces, charms with golden ducks found in ancient Egypt, and later – in the Hellenistic and Eastern world. A pair of mandarin ducks “Yuan-yang” symbolized and also served as a talisman of conjugal life in China. Fluffy tail of the wild duck was attached to the earrings of Tajiks and Uzbeks, in addition, in Central Asia, Apotropaic magic had feathers and claws of birds, embodying fertility: dove, pheasant, rooster.

1950-60s Vintage Cockerel Damascene, marked Spain

In Celtic mythology, cock is a symbolic animal. Although domestic chickens were more utilitarian than religious, the cock or rooster drew some superstitions to itself. Possibly because of its harsh call, the cock was believed to protect against danger that might approach from an unanticipated direction; this power was especially strong in March. Black cocks were viewed as lucky, while white cocks were just the opposite.

Cockerel Figurine by American jewelry designer Jay Strongwater

Cock and the Pearl, The Aesopic fable

A cock was strutting up and down the farmyard among the hens when suddenly he saw something shining amid the straw. “Ho! ho!” he said.“That’s for me.” He soon rooted it out from beneath the straw. The shiny object turned out to be a pearl that by some chance had been lost in the yard. “You may be a treasure,” said Master Cock, “to men that prize you, but for me I would rather have a single barleycorn than a peck of pearls.” Moral: Precious things are for those who can prize them.

Decorative Sculpture ‘Cockerel’. 1995 EA Larichev from the village of Red. Krasnoselsky Jewelry Factory

Dueling roosters, 18k Gold, Platinum, Colored Stone, Enamel and Diamond Jabot

If one looks up at the steeples of churches and cathedrals in Europe, the most common figure at the apex is that of a rooster. It was commonly believed in the past that the devil could carry out his evil work only under cover of darkness and had to retreat to his own realm at the first light of day. Roosters are thus charged with spotting the first light of the sun and crowing loudly to let the devil know that his time has expired while at the same time letting the people know that it is safe to venture out into the day.

Roosters, carved from Agalmatolite

Two gem set, enamel and diamond cockerel brooches, late 19th century

Erwin Pearl vintage brooch Cockerel

Bright Brooch ‘tropical bird’ from Avon, coated with yellow enamel and jewelry. 1970s

Brooch with a figure of a wild goose, Tortolani, with cabochons ‘Beijing’ glass

Goose had mythological and symbolic significance to the Celts. The barnyard goose, a notoriously aggressive being, was seen as an image of the warrior divinities, both male and female. Stone geese lined the temples of Gaul, while Brittany produced bronzes of war goddesses with goose-head helmets.