The currents created by the juxtapositioning of different metals were though to have healing qualities

In the later 19th and early 20th century Galvanism was the rage. The discovery and application of electricity were exciting developments and this was thought at the time to be the fundamental driving force for life. There were a number of different pendants made by different makers who each claimed their own successes in a host of ailments. This French pendant by Richardson is one of the less common examples.

• From the Phisick collection