Vintage Italian Wheel of Fortune Pendant

A very cool, vintage pendant, modeled in 18k yellow gold, featuring the bust of the Roman Goddess Fortuna and her wheel of fortune. Dea Fortuna is depicted, here, as a blindfolded woman with long, flowing hair⁠— she wears a carefree expression. The wheel of fortune is situated behind her, and a broad, flat, gold frame encircles them both. This pendant has lovely dimensionality and depth. Both sides are fully finished and the pendant looks the same on the front and back sides. In medieval and ancient philosophy Fortuna is the goddess of fortune, and her Rota Fortunae is a symbol of the "capricious nature of fate." The goddess of fortune wears a blindfold to reflect the belief that luck is blind, and without bias. Fortuna and her wheel are important concepts in early literature, where the wheel of fortune is often described as cruel, and is sometimes depicted with men arranged atop it! We love this pendant as a talisman, not only for our daring chancers, but also for those that respect and fear the wheel! 

Materials

18k gold

Age

c. 1970

Dimensions

Total drop (including bail) measures approx 1 3/8"; circle measures approx 26.2 mm (just over 1").