Vintage Ring with Diamonds in Silver & Gold, c. 2010

In this ring, the Man in the Moon seems to peek out from behind the clouds for a moment. For centuries, people have sought familiar shapes in the light and dark areas of the moon. In European folklore, this gave rise to the image of the Man in the Moon. In the late 19th century, the face of the moon also found its way into jewellery. Carved moonstones, whose shimmering glow was reminiscent of moonlight, were particularly popular, especially in late-Victorian England. A face was engraved into these stones, and they were often set alongside diamonds. This ring draws on the whimsical imagery of Victorian pieces of jewellery and also places a moon at its center. The striking patina on the silver makes the features of the moon’s face stand out vividly from the metal. Diamond roses adorn the relief-carved clouds drifting across the moon’s disk, while the pink sapphires lend the moon man’s eyes a surprisingly lively expression. Their delicate pink hue provides a subtle accent to the dark areas of the silver and the warm gold of the ring band. The ring was likely crafted only in recent years. Its design draws on the imagination of the 19th century, when pieces of jewellery were much more frequently allowed to tell little stories than they are today. This unusual ring came to us from Hamburg.

Estimate:$1,884.11

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