A German 18k gold enamel hand pendant holding a strawberry.
Unique work. Designed as a hand with a frilled cuff with chased ribbon design picked out in black enamel with a freestanding bail. The hand in black enamel with fine gold tattoos on both sides, wearing two rings set with a round emerald and a small baguette-cut diamond. The strawberry naturalistically rendered in transluscent red and green enamel. Hallmarks: Fineness 750, maker's mark "Jakob". Hand-signed and dated in gold enamel to the palm. Total H 5.8 cm. Weight 27.6 g.
Otto Jakob, Karlsruhe 1996.
This iconic hand pendant, created 27 years ago, is one of the first examples of a motif that was to become a longstanding and popular series by the artist, each with different attributes. The idea was to reinterpret the meaning of historical Renaissance hand pendants and give them a contemporary relevance.
This hand holds a strawberry, which in Christian iconography represents humility and modesty due its low growth. As a plant from the rose family, it is also an attribute of the Virgin Mary. However, Otto Jakob chose the motif not only for its interesting cultural significance but also as a study in scarlet enamel. This poses a major technical challenge if one wants to achieve the level of craftsmanship of the Renaissance models.