A Victorian garnet snake necklace

A Victorian garnet snake necklace

The head with foliate decoration set with a cabochon garnet, with garnet eyes and suspending from its mouth a heart-shaped locket set with a cabochon garnet, a glazed locket compartment to the reverse, on a tapered snake-link chain, length 36.0cm, fitted box by A.B. Savory & Sons, London

Note:

Unmarked but tested by The Goldsmiths Company, London Assay office as 15 carat gold with finer gold plating

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Adey Bellamy Savory (member of a family of Huguenot origin) established his business in 1812 at 14 Cornhill, City. Until 1833, he was variously listed as goldsmith (1812), dealer in foreign coins (1815) and spoons and forks manufacturer (1831). In 1833, his sons, Joseph Savory (Sr.) and Albert Savory, entered into the business and the firm changed its name to A.B. Savory & Sons. Their silver manufactory (gold and silver, jewellery, electro and Sheffield plate, watches and clocks) was at 5 Finsbury Place, South. Meanwhile, they continued to operate as dealers at various addresses in Cornhill. In 1866, A.B. Savory & Sons was converted into a limited liability company and changed the name to Goldsmiths' Alliance Ltd. They operated in the new factory at 18 Red Lion Street, Clerkenwell. In 1893, the firm went voluntarily out of business and the activity was incorporated by the Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co Ltd.