{"product_id":"antique-french-18k-gold-gallia-rooster-medal-pendant-c-1890","title":"Antique French 'Gallia' Pendant","description":"\u003cdiv\u003eA fine and symbolically rich French gold pendant dating to circa 1890, composed of a circular double-sided medallion framed in a looping gold mount.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003eOn the obverse is a beautifully engraved helmeted female figure inscribed “GALLIA” - a personification of ancient Gaul and a patriotic emblem of France’s cultural origins. Gallia was commonly portrayed in late 19th-century art as a proud warrior maiden, referencing both classical iconography and France’s republican ideals. The use of her image speaks to a renewed interest in French national identity following the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71. Gallia represents resilience, liberty, and the mythic ancestry of the French people rooted in the Gallic tribes that once inhabited the region.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003eThe reverse depicts a standing cockerel — the \u003cem\u003ecoq gaulois\u003c\/em\u003e — now widely recognised as the national symbol of France. Though not used as a tribal emblem in antiquity, the rooster gained prominence during the French Revolution and again under the Third Republic. The Latin word \u003cem\u003egallus\u003c\/em\u003e means both \"rooster\" and \"Gaul\", which made the animal a punning symbol of the French nation. By the 1880s, it had become a widespread icon of civic pride, appearing on medals, coins, and architecture.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003eThe pendant is mounted in an 18K gold ribbon-twist frame with an integrated bail, hallmarked with the French \u003cem\u003etête de cheval\u003c\/em\u003e (horse head), used for 18K gold items made outside Paris between 1847 and 1919. A maker’s mark is also present, though partially obscured.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMeasurements\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e 3cm (including bail) x 2.5cm wide\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e Weight: 1.81g\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCondition\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e Good antique condition. Under magnification, one side of the hollow frame shows a fine internal crack and a few light dents; these do not affect wearability or structural integrity.\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Ravensbury Antiques","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48731383955764,"sku":"1017810108","price":12898.0,"currency_code":"HKD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0708\/6784\/5428\/files\/0G2A5316_2116849.jpg?v=1753369812","url":"https:\/\/ravensburyantiques.com\/zh-hk\/products\/antique-french-18k-gold-gallia-rooster-medal-pendant-c-1890","provider":"Ravensbury Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}