The winged hourglass wax seal charm necklace... I've paired two wax seal charms together to create this winged hourglass wax seal necklace in fine silver. Once again, inspired by the old stone carvings on the gravestones in historic cemeteries. The winged hourglass carvings date back to around the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and have long been used as a message of man's fleeting time on earth and the uncertainty of our moral future... in Latin, described as "carpe diem" which translates "seize the day!"

I used an antique armorial bronze desk seal to stamp the wings and an antique victorian trinket wheel seal to stamp the hourglass... the full hourglass seal is surrounded by the words "time is short" but I have used just a portion of this seal so the words are not shown. Both wax seal charms are hand stamped in fine silver and then oxidized to highlight the details. The wings charm measures approximately 5/8", the hourglass charm measures just over 1/4" and both are threaded onto a delicate oxidized 16" sterling silver cable chain with a spring ring clasp. The charms can be worn together for one message and when worn separately can convey other messages...
The set of wings, or vol, is sitting above a 6 twisted wreath, or torse, and in heraldry, it symbolizes swiftness and protection.
"Until you spread your wings, you'll have no idea how far you can fly!" ~ unknown.
In heraldry, the hourglass symbolizes flight of time and mortality. Did you know that when the hourglass is turned over, it is a symbol of rebirth and a new beginning?

*please note... if you will always wear the two charms together as one, I can place both charms on one jump ring so that the hourglass is in the center of the wings charm instead of being off to the side. The last photo shows the charms on one ring (I've used the tiny skull charm as an example here)... if this is your preference, just leave a note at checkout!

Inspired by history... old world charm made wearable!

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