I have converted these century-old Masonic watch fob spinners into pendants. They are a delight to behold! The flat discs appear to have random imagery, but when spun they magically reveal secret symbols only for those in the know ~
One fob pendant reveals the Mason emblem with the traditional compass, square, and letter G. Masons attribute these symbols to "squaring your actions by the square of virtue," and the compass to "circumscribe your desires and keep your passions within due bounds toward all mankind," and the "G" as a symbol of either god or geometry. The G has also been said to stand for the Gnosis or the Gnostics, though the true meaning is heavily disputed.
The other fob pendant reveals a pentagram with other smaller symbols inside it. The ancient Greeks and Romans, among others, considered the Pentagram a symbol of balance and health. The Pentagram can be seen to resemble or symbolize the human body, the five-points representing the head and the four limbs. The Pentagram was used in ancient Chinese and Japanese religions to symbolize the five elements of life. Pythagoras’ study went beyond mathematics, as he assigned the five elements to the five points of the star. Those elements being FIRE, WATER, AIR, EARTH, and SPIRIT.
The pendants are damascene, which means that silver and gold have been delicately inlaid to oxidized steel. The disc is held on either side to allow it to spin freely by a decorative half circle, which features scroll/floral patterns.
Antique 1910-20's Amita Damascene.
1-1/8 inch wide x 1-5/16 inch tall
Square and Compass Fob comes on 30.5" oxidized brass chain.
Pentagram Fob comes on 31" oxidized brass chain.