The Greek key, or meander, takes its name from the winding Meander River in ancient Asia Minor. The pattern appears throughout ancient Greek architecture and pottery, formed from a single line that turns endlessly back on itself. That continuous path made it a natural symbol of eternity and the interconnectedness of things. I love how Victorian jewelry kept reiterating this theme: garters, the ouroboros, the infinity knot, etc.
The Victorians revived classical motifs constantly, and by the 1870s the meander was a Neoclassical banger. Here the gold piqué work contrasts nicely against dark tortoiseshell. Restrung on new elastic cord, it's very wearable and ultra-comfortable.
MATERIALS: tortoiseshell with gold inlay, elastic cord
AGE: c. 1870
CONDITION: Very good
SIZE: 6 1/2" inner circumference, 7/8" diameter of the round links, 1/2" flat links