A wonderful, Victorian era, hardstone signet ring, modeled in 15k rosy yellow gold, whose shoulders feature an unusual decoration of slender, laddered, black enamel bars. The ring’s bezel-set, intaglio-carved seal features a coat of arms bearing three griffin’s heads (erased), and a chevron decorated with a series of ermine pelts. A knight’s helmet sits atop the coat of arms and, above the helmet, a noble-looking griffin sits (sejant), resting its foot on a book. The carving, here, is especially fine and well-preserved! The ring's smooth bezel is set atop a scalloped base, and large beads of granulation decorate the shank where it joins the bezel, at the shoulder. The barred enamel decor suggests a mourning aspect to this ring. We love these layered sardonyx hardstone carvings, where red carnelian lends the thin layer of white chalcedony above it a faint lavender cast! This crest and coat of arms may belong to the Gardner family.
Materials
15k
Hardstone (carnelian, chalcedony)
Enamel
Age
c. 1870
Size
US 7 1/2
This ring can be resized (down to size US 6 1/2 and up to size US 9 1/2). Resizing for this ring is complimentary (just leave your desired size in the notes at checkout).
Dimensions
Ring face measures approx 19.5 x 16 mm; ring shank measures approx 5.9 mm at the shoulder and tapers to approx 1.9 mm at the base.
Notes
Heraldry: "Azure, between a chevron ermine, three Griffins' heads erased. Crest: a griffin sejant resting its dexter claw on a book sable."
