Gold Slide Representing Mortality and Immortality

Incredible gold slide, circa 1640, enameled in black and white, the front with symbols of mortality and reverse with symbols of immortality. The front features symbols of death - a skull and crossbones. an hour glass [tempus fugit] the lamp of the last supper a serpent-entwined staff [death and evil] and 4 instances of a 'double phi' which would have stood for the deceased person's initials, i.e., PP.

On the reverse are the initials 'MM' for 'memento mori' and symbols of immortality - a serpent forming a circle of eternity, a flower symbolizing immortality and lover's knots.

The slide measures 2.6 cm by 2 cm [1 and 1/8 inches by 3/4 of an inch]. There is some damage to enamel on both sides on this incredibly rare and finely executed memento mori slide.

There is a similar slide in Joyaux Renaissance-Une Splendour Retrouvee published by J. Kugel, plate 131. This piece has a larger skull and is circa dated 1630. In addition, see Joan Evans History Of Jewellery Plate 125 [also in the jewelry collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum].