19th Century German Silver Charivari Pendant

This unusual and weird silver dates to around 1890 and was made in the alpine regions of Bavaria, southeast Germany. Traditional jewellery set with animal teeth, known as ‘charivari’ charms or pendants, were more than just hunting trophies - it was thought that the pieces imparted the animal’s strength, speed and cunning to the hunter. The more varied the types of teeth a man had on his charivari chain, the more courage he was said to have as a hunter. Aside from being a status symbol, they were also worn as an amulet and were meant to bring good luck in future hunts. Traditionally, groups of these pendant charms would have been hung together on a silver chain and worn with a Tracht or Lederhosen. The present example shows the upper jaw from a small mammal, possibly a marten - from the Mustalid family - apparently quite an aggressive creature. It is set in silver with an applied decorative oak leaf and acorn motifs.

During the 19th century, only the upper classes were allowed to hunt, so charivari became an important status symbol amongst the gentlemen of nobility. These treasured items were passed down through the generations and were never bought. This trend was brought over to Britain by Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband. Albert, who was born in Germany, gifted Victoria many pieces of tooth-set jewellery, some of these featured the milk teeth of their numerous children. In 1860, Albert presented Victoria with an elaborate necklace made from 44 stag’s teeth and gold enamel. The teeth were all taken from stag’s hunted by Albert himself on the grounds of the Royal estate Balmoral in Scotland. Victoria seemed to appreciate her husband’s gifts, as well as the German style of tooth jewellery, but the trend never caught on in England outside of the Royal household. Tooth amulets and other charivari are still worn in traditional settings in Southern Germany today.

The pendant measures 4cm by 1.8cm and weighs 10.15 grams.