Arts and Crafts Silver Green Enamel Grapes Pendant

The grape motif is far from new. In Ancient times, it was a symbol for the Roman God Bacchus, the god of wine and vegetation. You could honor him by drinking wine, and many wine cups were decorated with images of grapes and vines. (Grapes and wine were of course, also likened to danger and debauchery!) One of the oldest domesticated crops known to man, grapes have been cultivated for 6,000-8,000 years, with the oldest known winery dating to around 4,000 BC. Also a frequent symbol in Christianity, the bible refers to the vine many times, and Jesus himself once declared, “This is my blood,” as he held a cup of wine.In the long lineage of honoring this beloved and historically ubiquitous fruit, this antique Arts & Crafts silver and enamel pendant was handcrafted in England, right around the turn of the century, c.1900. It features a bountiful bunch of grapes, hand wrought in silver against a background of verdant green enamel. Rustic, but rich with craftsmanship, even the bale is hand