Jeweled Pendant in the Form of a Fish Sea Monster, with Tobias and the Angel 1582

Curator: I find myself completely charmed by this imagined pendant! It's titled "Jeweled Pendant in the Form of a Fish Sea Monster, with Tobias and the Angel," etched by Adriaen Collaert. It lives here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It does have this curious lightness, almost like a dream. The creature itself feels so… playful, not monstrous at all. Curator: Absolutely, it's a fantasy! Look at Tobias and the Angel perched on its back. And those elegant scrolls and dangles—can you imagine someone actually wearing this? Editor: I think it speaks to the cultural fascination with mythology and religious narratives. This pendant presents a blend of the sacred and the fantastical, right? Who got to wear this piece and to what end? Curator: Perhaps it was a display of wealth, of sophisticated knowledge, or maybe even a protective talisman, blending sacred imagery into everyday adornment. It’s a real conversation piece! Editor: A conversation about power, wealth, faith, and, of course, art. It certainly gives you plenty to think about, doesn’t it?