DATE: Victorian, c.1840

A particularly weird fob pendant dating from the early Victorian era, circa 1840. It's an enamelled bear head atop a gold post with a snake coiled around, its head resting on the back of the bear's. The snake and the bear are rendered in vitreous enamel - blue and red respectively - and the gold post is covered in hand-engraved embellishment with a coral fob base. What is the meaning? I have literally no idea... The bear's features are verging on grotesque. 

STONES

Coral

MEASUREMENTS

24.8 x 9.4mm

WEIGHT

4.4g

MARKS

No marks present, tests as 15k gold

CONDITION

Very good