Rare Antique Museum Historic LEONHARD BERG Georgian Biedermeier Renaissance Wedding Paste Silver Ring

We are pleased to offer this rare Biedermeier, Georgian era ring with full hallmarks and signed by the master goldsmith. Two examples are in the permanent collection in the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Those have unknown makers. (See Museum photos.)

From V & A Museum:

"Heavy silver ring with a flat circular bezel, curved slightly to fit the finger. The bezel is set with a central red paste surrounded by a ring of eight, slightly smaller, coloured pastes. The back of the shank is decorated with plain diagonal lines separated by beaded lines."

"This ring was bought by the Museum, as an example of traditional Württemberg jewellery, at the International Exhibition, London, in 1872 for seven shillings. It was probably a wedding ring. The heavy band with diagonal stripes is typical of 19th-century rings from southern Germany."

Our ring, Circa 1820, has precise hallmarks for the Baden Franconia area, Rothenburg ob der Tauber. It is also signed by LEONHARD BERG. It bears a stylized monogram of the original owner. The beauty of the ring is that it has the grandeur of the Medieval Renaissance. It is masterfully hand wrought in silver and paste. The paste stones are of high quality and are still bright and lively after 200 years. The labor intensive process of hand cutting and polishing lead glass created a sparkle brighter then gemstones. As suggested by the museum, this was probably a ceremonial wedding ring. Would make a fantastic cocktail ring and is clearly museum quality! A wonderful historic ring! In very good condition with only a part of the bezel missing on one paste stone. Hallmarks, gems and raised detail intact. Wonderful and rare collector piece. In a size 9 1/4, 10.6 grams. Face of ring measures 1 1/8 inches.