Victorian Black Enamel Mourning Ring engagement rings and fertility

and fertility

and floral motifs regularly feature in jewellery and the decorative arts of the day

Medusa carved from a single piece of pale pink conch shell - the most subtle of hues

25ct calculated)

would make it the oldest surviving fragment of a western European stringed instrument (although images of Greek lyres are much older)

Victorian Black Enamel Mourning Ring engagement rings and fertilityStriking antique mourning ring dating from the mid 19th century, circa 1860. Set with four lustrous white pearls and five diamonds, the rich 18 carat gold is finished with fine seams of black enamel to the head and shoulders. Although its creator clearly designed it as a memorial mourning piece, the inscription inside the band suggests its realised purpose was likely something different the engraved words: From Jan to Filo(?) indicate with was