Baroque Gold Ring with a Stuart Crystal, Great Britain c. 1707

Three Centuries of Memory

Baroque Gold Ring with a Stuart Crystal, Great Britain c. 1707

€ 3,290.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Description

This description was automatically translated from German. If you have any questions about this piece of jewellery, we will be happy to help!

When Prince Albert died in 1861, Queen Victoria resolved to wear mourning until the end of her life – thus setting social standards that it would have been frowned upon not to follow. In the years that followed, the trade in black clothing for the prescribed period of mourning after a death flourished, as did that in mourning jewellery, the only kind of adornment permitted during mourning. Strict etiquette governed the life of a mourner for up to two years, depending on their closeness to the deceased. Mourning jewellery, however, was nothing new. As early as the 18th century, special rings had been created for this purpose, distributed to the mourners at the funeral as memorial rings. This ring is such a memorial piece. It takes the form of a gold band with elegant engravings of acanthus leaves. These engravings were originally filled with black enamel. The bezel holds a so-called Stuart crystal – a faceted rock crystal protecting a lock of hair. The underside of the bezel was also enamelled, though most of the enamel here has likewise been lost. What makes the ring particularly special is an original engraving on the inside. It helps us to date the piece, for it reveals the 29th of August 1707 as the date of death of the person – “JD” – being commemorated. A very similar example to ours, dated 1703, can be found under inventory number AF.1583 in the British Museum.

Size & Details

Three Centuries of Memory

€ 3,290.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Our Promise

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You can rely on our years of experience in the trade and our expertise as a professional art historians for reviews of the antique jewellery. As a member of various trade organisations and the British Society of Jewellery Historians, we remain committed to the highest possible degree of accuracy. In our descriptions, we always also indicate any signs of age and defects and never hide them in our photos – this saves you from any unpleasant surprises when your package arrives.

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Three Centuries of Memory

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