Found on beach south of Sebastian Inlet

[IsabellaSea]

Smooth as a stingray belly on reverse. I wonder if a piece is missing, the pin to pierce the clothing and perhaps some links to join the top bar on each side.

If I pass the pineapples through a buttonhole on each side of a garment (ex., vest) then the top bar is somewhat recessed between the sides of the garment.
Somewhat dimensional but the pearl caps may not have gotten the attention deserved.

Interesting about the religious ring and the non-Catholic idea, oh what a heathen to not be Catholic.

 

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[IsabellaSea]

Laura, You sparked an idea with the Sirena mention. I'm also thinking Stella Maris.

 

[elle]

Mermaids were common on Spanish pendants, their height being in the 17th century. Your pendant was not worn by a heathen, but a Christian. Sirens (mermaids) were sometimes seen among the outside art on Mexican churches, as they were considered folklore representations, along with dragons, serpents, monsters, and gargoyles. These were all images of evil. Therefore, the “S” did not represent “Mary, Star of the Sea (Stella Maris).” Christians felt that mermaids lured men from their good faith and judgment, away from the teachings of the Church. This folklore symbol represented a temptation that all humans confronted and needed to resist from everything they had learned in their religious upbringing. This piece of jewelry was worn as a reminder to the owner that if he did not stay true to his faith, danger and sin would be the outcome. Pendants were pinned on without elaborate fastening on the backs. This way a pendant could be worn on clothing or secured into the hair of a lady on another day. IsabellaSea, I acknowledge your great determination and wisdom in finding answers, and wish you the best of luck!

Laura

 

[IsabellaSea]

Etiquette?

Ouch, such tone. Newbie IsabellaSea notes the great Santini reads between the lines and not the August 17 missile she penned regarding date of find.

You can't 'pizz me off' because if you knew how to respond differently I am certain you would have chosen to do so.

Still do not understand the importance of date found. But understanding does not matter. Learning does. Apologies all around to those who I may have offended in my zealous quest.

For the record, in the original image posting I did not state when found. A polite gentleman asked me and I quickly responded.

Currently I am in a position to research the Golden Pineapple and other finds since I have semi-retired. Interesting facts: a treasure diver suggested I post the image on this site and she knows it is not still warm and sandy, had it been so paramount I would think she would have advised me to state the date found. And another full-tme treasure professional, an appraiser, was unconcerned with the date found; after months of research he still has the same hunch as most, perhaps a cloak closure. The most vexing are the symbols in the 300 year old piece, he says as he continues his research.

All-in-all I am sure the sand and sea will continue to be generous to those who are worthy.

Oceans of joy from IsabellaSea.

It's a roach clip...minus the roach, the clip, and the feathers...

Oh, I'm sorry, Just noted that the find was 20 PLUS YEARS AGO, AS IS my response above...

Would have BEEN NICE to know that PRIOR to many of us going on full alert to research the find!!!

PLEASE be forthcoming in a 1715 Find post here in the future, you'll find that many here will bend over backwards to help you out...Posting a 20+ year old beach find as if it was current is bad business!

May have pizzed a few off here with my response, but I'm NOT a PC kinda person...so be it.

Santini~


..

 

[elle]

Isabellasea, whether your find is a cloak fastener, or what I think is a breast ornament missing two pins, I think there is something equally important to concentrate on. I question the age of the piece as being from the 1715 era. Sirens and mermen were extremely popular as jeweled pendants from the late 1500s to early 1600s. “Sirena del mar” had its height around 1600. I don’t know where your object came from on the coast, but if it was found anywhere near Wabasso and to the north of there, it likely came from the 1618 wreck. Perhaps even an Indian dropped your trinket in its location after being discovered from a 1500s wreck on the Treasure Coast. If you go to any professional who specializes in the history of Spanish jewelry, they would likely repeat my theory. The use of mermaids would be considered “outdated” by the public eye. To wear it in 1715 would be embarrassing, as fashion was everything to the upper class. I would send a photo and cover letter to the Met, and perhaps an expert will reply. Also, I don’t think the piece had to “hitch a ride” on a rosary. I got a kick out of that…thank you for making me laugh. If the passenger wore it, they didn’t have to pay the tax.

Last but not least, I have a piece of research to help prove what the concept of a mermaid and “death”symbol meant. Don Sebastián de Covarrubias Orozco lived between the years of 1539-1613. He was a chaplain and writer who had a popular book published called, Emblemas morales de Don Sebastian de Covarrubias Orozco.
His moral concept for society was that the Holy Spirit cautioned one to stay away from the siren who attracted men. The mermaid would take his sense and judgment which would kill the individual in the end.

Best of luck,
Laura

 

[elle]

Few more thoughts I’d like to add:
*** You all know this is a symbolic reflection of human morals. Theologians really did not mean men were going to meet real mermaids out there. It was designed to be a religious accessory to pronounce fidelity and faithfulness. This is explained in #94 of Emblemas morales de Don Sebastian de Covarrubias Orozco. This book is online and the pictures are amazing, being from the year of 1610. The message is that the man’s soul would eventually “die”with sin if he was lured in by a mermaid (female). The “death” symbol did not literally mean the killing of the body, but the soul.
*** The piece was created as one unit with matching S clasps. This technique was common so pendants could be changed frequently. The owner’s wife could then wear it with her own decorations, and women pinned ornaments in so many different places. Ribbons were later used to tie pieces onto clothing, the hair, and even in the pierced ears.
*** A wreck from the1600s also sits at the 1715 Capitana site, which is the Cabin wreck. Just in case the object was found in that vicinity.
*** Cuzcosquirrel, the7-decade rosary is the Franciscan Crown Rosary, and you were referring to the Paternosters? Beads used for counting? You were right on and thank you so much for your insight.

 

[cuzcosquirrel]

Thanks for the research material.

The back being flat kind of narrows it down to a clothing type jewelry piece. I'm not overly familiar with the fixing devices used between clothes and jewelry for the period. I know most smallions had loops to put thread through to fix them on, so a cloak clasp might be ideal for this item. Maybe this is why the pearls were so well protected by the gold cups.

Only thing I have looked at that this seems really close to is the Girona stuff and the new Atocha crux. It did look a little older in design than other 1715 stuff I have seen.

 

[elle]

Cuzcosquirrel, I think you were very accurate in what you said in a previous post. You questioned how and if the hanging pendants would stay straight on a cape. That is my concern also. I have never seen pendants hanging from a cloak clasp. Just google images for cloak fasteners/clasps. Men would sometimes wear the cape to the side, on the shoulder, and I think extra hanging ornaments would just get in the way of its usage and become all tangled up. I also cannot understand how it could be used as a cape fastener when the middle bar is one unit. Cloaks had one piece to the right and one to the left, and together they joined to become one unit. Perhaps I’m completely off, but it is something to think about.

 

[cuzcosquirrel]

I was thinking about how capes were worn on the side also. It may have been affixed permanantly as ornamentation in some way on one side, probably with thread, while another clasp chain or cloth material did the actual support of the garment.

Being smooth on the back kind of rules them out as being part of a religious item. They would either be double sided or elaborately etched/engraved on the back, which you see almost always without exception on these pieces.

 

[mad4wrecks]

Laura, great information as usual. The Green Cabin wreck is a certain possibility. There was a lot of digging on that site in the early 1990's. I have heard of other artifacts coming off those beaches around that time period as well.
Tom

 

[Au_Dreamers]

*** A wreck from the1600s also sits at the 1715 Capitana site, which is the Cabin wreck. Just in case the object was found in that vicinity.

Perhaps a freudian slip?

If you mean the Green Cabin wreck as mad4wrecks posted...

What is believed to be the San Martin the 1618 Almiranta of Honduras is within the boundary of the Corrigan’s wreck site not the Cabin wreck site which is approxiamtely 4.9nm north

But you may be right that it is near the Capitana of the 1715 fleet!! Hehe

-Cheers!

 

[elle]

ThanksTom. Cuzcosquirrel, I totally agree with you that it was not a religious object of devotion, such as a medal honoring a particular Saint. I believe the piece was a reminder of morals based on one’s religion, similar to the concept of the worn promise ring. At the Cabin site (the 1715 Capitana site), there was found evidence of a 17th century wreck (not the 1618 San Martin that sits at Corrigans). Perhaps it is the sister ship of the 1618, or another of unknown identification.

 

[Au_Dreamers]

I thought mad4wrecks posted it was found in the Corrigan's area so I am confused...

and hence San Martin reference and the joke about the Capitana

 

[itmaiden]

The symbol on the right represents the "Americas" The upper part of the mermaid is North America, the Lower South America and the curvy middle is Central America. Compare to shape of the America's. I stumbled on this info by accident last night when researching something else. We must assume the symbol on the left which has "water waves" is probably representative of the Old Country. Maybe the piece demonstrates the connection of travel or expedition between the 2, and perhaps the small gold cup disks are the numbers of expeditions between the 2, or "years of service" ? Or they could just be removable for payments of whatever is needed ?

itmaiden

 

[mad4wrecks]

My understanding is that the artifact was found on the beaches of John's Island, in the Corrigans and Middle Ground area.

Elle only mentions the Cabin Wreck (as she was not sure where the artifact was found) because there is a 1600's shipwreck in that vicinity as well and her feelings are the artifact is older than the 1715 period.

Tom

 

[Leebo in SC]

Sweet

 

[cw0909]

not sure if these links will help,my spanish is not fluent

Portal de Archivos Españoles

Portada del Archivo General de Simancas

 

[elle]

I am really excited because I found something new and as I always say, “God reveals things as He desires.” Could someone who knows IsabellaSea, please pass this on to her, as it might help explain where her artifact originated from.

The image in the left pendant is not a man-o-war or sword, but is a symbol the ancient Indians of Peru and Bolivia used to depict a “mermaid” of their own culture. An example of this representation, carved into stone, now resides in the Museo Arqueológico de Puno, Peru, but the piece was originally discovered in Bolivia.

Mermaids, or “Umantuus,” were actually part of the Indians’ mythology stemming from a story in the region of Lake Titicaca. For versions of this fable, please google “Copacabana,” “Umantuu,” “Tunupa,” and “Titicaca.”

When the Spanish came to South America, they realized their Christian tradition of viewing mermaids as “sin” (see previous posts for explanation on this symbolic reflection of human morals) coincided with the beliefs the Indians formed from an ancient myth. Mermaid decorations became widely used on Christian churches throughout Peru and Bolivia, especially in Potosi and near Lake Titicaca.

So the left pendant shows the Indian outline or sketch of a mermaid, and the right one belonged to the Spanish people of the Colonial times who titled a mermaid, “sirena.”

Although I believe the artifact shows typical 17th century style and workmanship, I do see a possibility of it coming from the 1715 Fleet now that I know it was potentially created in the Viceroyalty of Peru.

Unfortunately, I am not able to help with archival information if it came from a 1600s wreck. I can, however, look back at my 1715 research and archives for the passengers I traced who were from Peru and its outer regions. A few presently come to mind who were of a higher social status and could afford gold, but of course the ornament could have also been in a shipment where the sender remained behind in the New World.

See Temples of Gold, Crowns of Silver: Reflections of Majesty in the Viceregal Americas, 1991, for a picture of the stone relief.

God Bless,
Laura

 

[IsabellaSea]

Dear Laura and others who posted regarding her fabulous info,
This is fascinating and make so much sense.
My mermaid pineapple artifact was found by Turtle Trail.
I just returned from a trip/conducted research at St. Augustine Historical Society. Found some interesting references to pineapple earrings and a quote supposedly from passengers stating there were pineapple earrings made for the Queen of Spain (whether made for Maria Louisa or Elisabetta we'll ever know; but Elisabetta aka, Isabella would have been the recipient of course) on board their ship. I will re-read my notes for accuracy then share details within the week.
Oceans of joy to you all.

 

[RELICDUDE07]

Most all the gold & goods stolen from around the world were in route back to Spain for the queen & king.I don't think most understand the role America played in the time period...It was a place they could melt stolen goods -deal in slave trade do what they wanted in the hopes the word wouldn't get back to Spain..But a few good men would turn them in at the end..Get the gold tested to see what part of the world it came from...It could be gold right from America stolen from Indians