Very fine quality high-carat gold and enamel bangle circa 1820 -1830 , depicting an ouroboros, from the Greek – a serpent devouring its tail. The ouroboros symbolises the cyclical nature of the universe : creation out of destruction, life out of death, the cycle of eternal renewal. The body of the serpent is enamelled fully round in detailed cross-hatched enamelling and its head is densely enamelled and set with diamond eyes. To interior is a locket section under crystal and the initials AA. The bangle will fit a wrist of up to 7.5 inches, the body is 1/3 of an inch wide and the head measures 1 and 1/4 inches by 1/2 an inch. There is one small defect to the goldwork on the interior. An extremely fine example of early 19th century enamel work.