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Ring roundup: antique figural rings.

It’s been a while since we had a good old fashioned Ring Roundup!

Today’s has a simple theme: these glorious rings are all figural in some way – by which I mean that they’re shaped like something, either human or animal. (This was an accidental theme – it wasn’t until after I chose the first three that I realized I was feeling figural.)

Victorian rose cut diamond and mother of pearl turtle ring.

This Victorian mother-of-pearl ring dates to 1880 and is shaped like a turtle. A turtle!! It was originally a stick pin, but has since been converted. The setting is 18k yellow with a split shank design and the turtle is set with rose-cut diamonds. I dare you not to love this one.

Antique Art Nouveau figural signet ring in gold with a band shaped like two women. Circa 1900's.
This figural Art Nouveau signet ring kills me. The first several times I looked at it, I was sure that the two figures holding the central shield on their elbows were mermaids. I think they might actually just be ladies standing in decorative swirls, but I prefer to think of mermaids so as mermaids I shall think of them. How’s that for a sentence?

What blows my mind about this one is that it’s blank. Who could ever own such a fantastic signet ring and not have it engraved?? Maybe it was never purchased.

Art Nouveau ruby and carved moonstone cameo ring
This charismatic little ring is an Art Nouveau cameo ring formed from a carved moonstone face surrounded with rubies. Isn’t it interesting? It reminds me of ghosts or the moon, but I mean both of those in a very positive way.

Art Deco 18k gold, emerald, ruby, and diamond Egyptian revival ring, circa 1920s.

I’ve never seen anything quite like this Art Deco ring before. It reflects the Egyptian Revival style, the result of the 1920’s obsession with ancient Egypt. This ring has a glorious split shank design in 18k gold which supports the most magnificent headdress-wearing figure rendered in gold gemstones. My favorite part is those luscious ruby drop earrings that the figure in the ring is wearing.

Antique Victorian skull charm ring. This antique carved ivory skull charm has been set with diamond eyes and affixed to a golden ring.
This ring is much more adorable than I generally expect skulls to be. It features a Victorian carved ivory skull charm set with modern diamond eyes. I love the way the skull charm is attached to the ring shank in a way that allows it to move around. What an interesting way to re-purpose an antique finding.

(Please note that I may have stretched the interpretation of “figural” a tiiiiiiny bit in using it to describe all of these selections.)

These glorious antique rings are all for sale by A Brandt + Son.  For listings, please see links in descriptions above. All images and info are thanks to A Brandt + Son.

Burmese ruby tassel earrings.

Is there anything more fun than a tassel? (These diamond and ruby tassel earrings say “no.”)

Diamond and Burmese ruby tassel earrings. Via Diamonds in the Library.

I adore the pierced delicate of those pagoda-shaped diamond surmounts and the rich red color of those Burmese ruby tassels.

So fun and sexy, yes? Look at the careful faceting on those ruby beads. I bet these are insane in the right lighting. Just imagine those tassels swishing elegantly along your neck as you incline your head to take another sip of your cocktail at some extraordinarily fabulous event. I can see it.

Let’s get a closer look at those surmounts.

Detail: Diamond and Burmese ruby tassel earrings. Via Diamonds in the Library.

Gorgeous. This, my dears, is appropriate attention to detail.

Oh, and I should tell you: these diamond and ruby tassel earrings are almost 4 inches long. How’s that for a statement piece?

This pair of diamond and Burmese ruby tassel earrings were listed in a recent Phillips auction. All images and info are thanks to Phillips.

 

Late 19th century flexible diamond snake necklace.

This antique diamond snake necklace has me wanting to speak Parseltongue.*

Antique diamond snake necklace from the late 19th century. Completely flexible with ruby eyes. Via Diamonds in the Library.

Seriously, have you ever seen a sexier slitherer? From the graduated shape of the body to the ruby cabochon eyes and that gasp-worthy pear-shaped drop in the tail, this is one boa that I’d go to serious lengths for.

Detail: Antique diamond snake necklace from the late 19th century. Completely flexible with ruby eyes. Via Diamonds in the Library.

I love the metalwork detail on the head, too; those parallel ridges give extra definition to the ruby cabochon eyes. The head is set with cushion-cut diamonds – many small ones and one larger one right on the top. The body of the snake is graduated towards the nape of the neck and made of articulated arch shaped links each set with brilliant cut diamonds.

This diamond snake necklace is mounted in silver and gold, which makes sense due to its age, but makes it all the more impressive that this large and complex piece is still in such good shape. This piece is circa 1890.

Antique diamond snake necklace from the late 19th century. Completely flexible with ruby eyes. Via Diamonds in the Library.

I think it’s fun and fabulous in a sexy Disney villain kind of way. And so luxurious, with that dangling diamond drop at the end of the tail! This piece measures 17 inches, so that pear-shaped drop would dangle right above a lady’s decolletage when this was worn.

Would you ever wear something like this? What would you pair it with? I’m having trouble imagining it with anything other than a low-cut black dress.

This gorgeous diamond snake necklace is currently for sale at S.J Phillips (listed price: “More than £50,000.”). All images and info are thanks to S.J. Phillips.

* It’s my blog and I’ll make Harry Potter jokes if I want to!

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