Victorian Demantoid Garnet & Diamond Salamander Brooch pink sapphire Although ultimately successful in re-establishing

Although ultimately successful in re-establishing a provisional republic after liberating France in 1944

An exceptional piece

they're usually characterised by a gem-set drop at the bottom

with openworked gallery and pinched shoulders

and are all clean and bright

Victorian Demantoid Garnet & Diamond Salamander Brooch pink sapphire Although ultimately successful in re-establishingDATE: Victorian, c. 1870 The salamander has, for centuries, been a symbol of immortality and rebirth connotations akin to the phoenix. It was thought to be able to withstand burning in flames, and so was perceived to be a magical creature Pliny the Elder wrote of them: "A salamander is so cold that it puts out fire on contact." In Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, the firemen wear a insignia salamander on their coats and trucks, a clear nod to this past