Pendant Seal Amethyst Intaglio Ecclesiastical Coat of Arms on Yellow Gold

18Kt (hallmark: owl) finely chased cachet set with an amethyst, weighing approx. 7.00 Cts, engraved with an intaglio representing the coat of arms of a bishop: a dignified hat above the shield, with cords on either side ending in 10 tassels; the coat of arms is adorned with crosses and flowers, and is surmounted by a crown, a crozier and a mitre. An inscription is also engraved on the bottom of the intaglio. Work of the 19th century. Gross weight: 7.89 gHeight: 3.10 cmWidth: 1.80 cm Condition: very slight micro-scratches on the gold parts, see photos. Heraldry originated in the art of warfare and tournaments, in which the clergy did not participate. In the 13th century, however, the use of heraldry spread to the high clergy, who, like the bourgeoisie of the time, took on the role of nobility. To traditional heraldry, the clergy added a series of external ornaments, sometimes joined to the nobiliary ornaments that distinguished the wearer's birth. The galero (or dignity hat) thus became the ecclesiastical ecclesiastical symbol par excellence and distinguishes the function of the bearer of the coat of arms, according to two clues: its color and the number of tassels hanging from the cords framing the coat of arms. All our antique pendants.