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A French Art Nouveau gold ring of about 1900, with a ruby set between the masks of comedy and tragedy.The shoulders are sculpted as the classic theatre masks of ancient Greece, the 'prosopon', which showed joy and sorrow to the back of the amphitheatre. Twisting laurel leaves frame the bezel, recalling the laurel wreaths awarded to great actors. The ring was most likely made for a French actress of the Belle Époque, a contemporary of Sarah Bernhardt.At the centre is a natural ruby cabochon of approximately 1.15ct, a deep pinkish red, rub-over set in a bold bezel. Inside, the band is lightly engraved '12.4.3', most likely the date 12 April 1903.Heavy, theatrical and rare: a ring with a story.Details: c.1900; France; 18K gold, French owl mark; ruby cabochon approx. 1.15ct; band 4mm at the back; UK R½, US 9; 14.69g.Condition: Very good. Under magnification the ruby shows a tiny surface chip, hardly visible when worn.
A French Art Nouveau gold ring of about 1900, with a ruby set between the masks of comedy and tragedy.
The shoulders are sculpted as the classic theatre masks of ancient Greece, the 'prosopon', which showed joy and sorrow to the back of the amphitheatre. Twisting laurel leaves frame the bezel, recalling the laurel wreaths awarded to great actors. The ring was most likely made for a French actress of the Belle Époque, a contemporary of Sarah Bernhardt.
At the centre is a natural ruby cabochon of approximately 1.15ct, a deep pinkish red, rub-over set in a bold bezel. Inside, the band is lightly engraved '12.4.3', most likely the date 12 April 1903.
Heavy, theatrical and rare: a ring with a story.
Details: c.1900; France; 18K gold, French owl mark; ruby cabochon approx. 1.15ct; band 4mm at the back; UK R½, US 9; 14.69g.
Condition: Very good. Under magnification the ruby shows a tiny surface chip, hardly visible when worn.
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