Gold antique souvenir ring with hidden space and woven hair

Antique jewelry object group: ring

Condition: excellent condition
  -  (more info on our condition scale)

Country of origin: Although it does not carry any legible control marks we believe this to be of Belgian origin.

Style: Victorian - Victorian decorative arts refers to the style of decorative arts during the Victorian era. The Victorian era is known for its eclectic revival and interpretation of historic styles and the introduction of cross-cultural influences from the middle east and Asia in furniture, fittings, and Interior decoration. Victorian design is widely viewed as having indulged in a regrettable excess of ornament. The Arts and Crafts movement, the aesthetic movement, Anglo-Japanese style, and Art Nouveau style have their beginnings in the late Victorian era.
  -  See also: Victorian or more info on styles

Style specifics: The Grand Victorian Period - Experts divide the reign of Queen Victoria, also called The Victorian era (1837 - 1901) into three periods of about twenty years each; The Romantic Victorian Period (1837 - 1860), The Grand Victorian Period (1860 - 1880), and the Late or Aesthetic Victorian Period (1880 - 1901).

We consider this to be of the Grand Victorian Period.

This second Victorian period is famous for its ostentatious pieces set with pearls and diamonds (from South Africa). From ca. 1850 wealthy English had reported about jewelry from India and Japan, which heavily inspired the jewelers of this period. This period also corresponds with the death of Queen Victoria's husband King Albert making mourning jewelry (set with heavy dark stones) the type of jewelry specific for this period.

Period: ca. 1850
  -  (events & facts of this era, poetry of this era, fashion of this era)

Source of inspiration: Love and romance

Material: 18K red gold
  -  (more info on precious metals)

Extra information: The ring has two "doors" that open from one hinge at the bottom of the ring revealing (when opened) a strung of woven hair of either side inside the ring.

Hair jewelry - Between the mid 18th century (circa 1750) and about 1870, it was possible for a woman to sell her hair on special markets. The hair was bought by hair dealers who supplied it to special hair craftsmen. At a certain moment this typet of jewelry became such a fashion, that wealthy women started haircraft as a hobby. In fashion magazines of that time, you could find complete descriptions of the way to turn hair into little pieces of art.

Engraving: on the outside the word "Souvenir", at the inside the letters "N.V.B."

Hallmarks:
  -  (more info on hallmarks)

Dimensions: width 4,35 cm (1,71 inch)

Weight: 2,30 gram (1,48 dwt)

Ring size Continental: 55 & 17½ , Size US 7¼ , Size UK: O

Resizing: This ring cannot be resized because of the way it is made.
  -  (more info on ring sizes)

Reference Nº: 16295-0173

Copyright photography: Adin, fine antique jewelry

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