Antique Art Nouveau ring. Platinum, 18k gold, diamonds, opals. Made in France, circa 1890's to 1900.
Measurements:
Weight is 5.9 grams. US size 5 1/4.
Description :
Possibly the ultimate Art Nouveau ring - this ring has it all from materials and workmanship to subject. Made of gold and platinum and set with opals and diamonds. The ring is an openwork sculpture of a pair of curving snakes surrounding a clover or shamrock. The clover is composed of 3 pear-shaped opal petals. Opals have a delightful range and play of color, glowing with yellows, greens, blues and orange as the light catches different angles. In the center is an Old Mine Cut diamond, of about .20ct. The stem of the clover tapers and broadens and winds around one of the snake bodies, ending in a heart-shaped fork, like a dragon's tail. The stem is entirely pave set with small OMC diamonds. The diamonds are set in platinum and the opals in gold, which is typical and absolutely to be expected of jewelry of this period. The clover rests on the necks of a pair of mirror-image snakes. Scales and texturing of snake heads and bodies are finely rendered. The twisting form of the snakes metamorphosize into the shank of the ring.
Workmanship is fabulous. A superb and rare example of Art Nouveau jewelry.
Marks and Metal:
French hallmarks for gold and platinum: owl and masked man. There is a very faintly legible remnant of a maker's mark lozenge, but it is way too worn to read. 3060 - possibly a model or inventory number engraved on the back of one of the snakes.
Condition:
Good with negligible wear commensurate with age. Please see enlarged pictures and don't hesitate to ask questions which we will do our best to answer.
