Victorian Red Coral Manu Fica Amulet portraits and the aforementioned love-in-idleness (don't

and the aforementioned love-in-idleness (don't ask me about any of the rest

An incredible vintage Van Cleef & Arpels "Chat Malicieux” winking cat brooch dating from the 1960s

A stunning Edwardian period solitaire ring set with a blue/violet sapphire and diamond shoulder accents

Old Single

intaglio carved with the words GOOD NIGHT and hand snuffing out a candle

Victorian Red Coral Manu Fica Amulet portraits and the aforementioned love-in-idleness (don'tDATE: Victorian, c. 1850 An excellent antique coral manu fica amulet dating from the early Victorian period, circa 1850. It's gold topped, and the deep red coral creates a striking contrast with the yellow metal. The Manu Fica (aka figa, fig hand, mano fico) is an ancient obscene gesture, intended to figuratively represent sexual union. It was used to ward of the Evil Eye, apparently on the assumption that evil can be repelled by obscenity; that even