SOLD Early Victorian Emerald Paste and Marcasite Ring Silver and Gold

Jewelry : Antique : Fine : Victorian

 

This unusual ring is completely handmade as fine antique paste jewelry should be. Note the underside of the ring- it was fabricated and painstakingly soldered together, not cast. Each tiny marcasite was set into ornate settings. This ring was clearly meant to look like the fine jewelry of its time, in this case a rose cut diamond and emerald ring. But antique paste and marcasite jewelry was not considered cheap imitation jewels of their day- note how carefully paste jewelry is set, often in fine metals as this ring is. Marcasite is faceted iron pyrite. It was used in jewely during Georgian and Victorian times, and is still used today. There are two hallmarks on the outside of the shank which I have yet to decipher, but the fact that it is on the outside of the shank is a probable indication that it is of European origin. It is silver and the gold accents would be difficult to test, but it looks like a thin sheet of solid gold was applied to accent the paste, and also along the outer rim as a nice detail. It is size 8 1/2. The head of the ring is 3/4" long. The shoulders feature hand engraving. The facets of the stone are moderately worn but is not obvious unless held up to glance light directly off the table of the stone, as I did in the last photo.

Item ID: J 225