18K yellow gold, tested. Marks: Viennese hallmarks for 1824-1866 amongst others. Violet, yellow, black and white opaque enamel. Minor restoration. Collier: length circa 49 cm, bracelets: length circa 17.5 cm. Combined weight circa 47.97 g. The word pansy derives from the French word 'pensée' ('thought') which alludes to the fact that the flowers were long considered a symbol of remembrance. Ancient Greco-Roman religion also provides a story of the ''origin'' of the plant. Jupiter was said to have walked around the earth in the form of a shepherd, during which time he met the priestess Io, whom he fell madly in love with. His wife Juno was understandably not too happy about it. To protect Io, Jupiter turned her into a cow, whom he allowed to graze pansies, which in antiquity were also called 'Jupiter flowers'.