Victorian Nikolay Chulkov Russian Imperial Silver Gilt Horseshoe Bracelet

Luck, strength, prosperity, good fortune, if you have been searching for the ultimate lucky charm, this bangle is it! It is so choc full of good luck symbolism and energy that no one will be raining on your parade anytime soon!

This stunning piece was handcrafted by silversmith Nikolay Chulkov in beautiful gold gilt Russian Imperial silver, which is one of the most sought after and highly acclaimed types of silver in the world.

The design of this piece almost looks mechanical with all of its twisted ropes and coils, but then it also has a sweetness about it with the oversized horseshoe centerpiece arching over a tiny four-leaf clover with an adorable teeny tiny acorn dangling from a chain below.

Up close, it is a literal smorgasbord of texture and intricate detailing both of which are highly characteristic of tsarist Russian jewelry. From the ropes to the horseshoe, every part of this hinged bangle is dotted or hatched giving it incredible depth.

Now, let's talk about all of that drool-worthy Victorian symbolism!

For centuries, horseshoes have been considered a symbol of good luck and protection.

No one is quite sure when the superstition began, but legend has it that during the Middle Ages Saint Dunstan, the Archbishop of Canterbury and a skilled blacksmith, was asked by the Devil (disguised as a traveler) to re-shoe his horse.

Saint Dunstan, who saw through the traveler's disguise, instead grabbed the Devil and nailed the horseshoe to his cloven foot.

The act, naturally, caused the Devil a great deal of pain and Saint Dunstan said he would only remove the shoe if the Devil promised to never enter a building with a horseshoe mounted above the door, to which he agreed.

Soon, horseshoes were being used to protect homes from fairies, elves, witches, the Devil and other evil spirits as it was believed that these entities were afraid of horseshoes since they were made of iron and iron can withstand fire.

An interesting side note, during the Middle Ages the coffins of buried witches had a horseshoe nailed to it to prevent the witch from resurrecting.

As for why horseshoes are considered lucky, that has to do with the number of nails in the shoe: 7, the luckiest number.

It should come as no surprise that this lucky protection symbol would become a popular jewelry motif among those highly superstitious Victorians.

As if having a horseshoe wasn't lucky enough, this bracelet also features a four-leaf clover for additional good fortune as well as that lucky little acorn for added strength, prosperity and personal growth.