Borrowed on beliefs from antiquity. In ancient times, animals were endowed with powers that people lacked – the gods were thought to speak through animals. Birds in particular were considered a messenger of the gods, so the bird motif was widely used in ancient jewelry. The earliest origins of bird jewelry are difficult to trace, but in Finnish jewelry traditions, the bird has always symbolized health, wealth and success. Because waterfowl were a symbol of fertility, webbed feet were a common motif in women's jewelry. The prototype for this piece dates from 1000 A.D.