Large Pendant, Surrounded by Thirteen Studs 1593

Daniel Mignot created this drawing of a pendant, surrounded by thirteen studs, around the turn of the 17th century. In this design, vegetal motifs intertwine with geometric shapes, common in jewelry across Europe at the time. Note the prominent presence of symmetrical patterns, which speaks to a deep-seated human desire for order and balance, reminiscent of ancient cosmological diagrams intended to impose structure and harmony. This symmetry, though visually pleasing, also reflects a deeper psychological need to control the chaos of the world through structured design. Consider how the image of paired birds, symbolizing love and harmony, find echoes in Byzantine mosaics, and how it resurfaces again and again across cultures, revealing an unconscious longing for unity and concord. As we delve into these symbols, we find that collective memory is not linear but a cyclical process, a constant return of images that, though transformed, retain the power to stir deep emotions.