Symbolism, The Pelican

Here’s one I doubt you ever thought you’d be reading about on this particular website! The pelican isn’t a symbol that instantly denotes love or mortality, or is it one that makes an appearance often in jewellery art.

Pelican and Elephant 18th Century Sepia Brooch

First and foremost, the pelican is linked with the passion of Jesus, the Eucharist and self-sacrifice. Instantly, with those as a guide, we have a context for the pelican in sentimental jewels as all these relate to the theme of death and resurrection, but from where does this stem? The concept itself is a medieval one, with the idea that the pelican was attentive to her young and would offer her own blood during times of famine. Hence, the concept comes back around to to body of Christ (Corpus Christi) as the divine pelican.

In jewellery? The sentimental Neoclassical depictions are where you will find the pelican, although sparingly. In the example above, note the female figure holding the pelican, denoting her motherhood and the offering of herself to her young, hence the symbolism is quite fitting, but not an overt symbol that carried through to later jewellery in a large fashion. You can find examples of the pelican on its own in brooches and charms during the latter 19th century in base metals or the occasional gold and silver piece.

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