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This is a Rhoda Wager Boulder Opal Ring - mystery solved by jewels1900 and kiwipaul

In Fine Jewelry > Arts and Crafts Jewelry > Show & Tell.
Arts and Crafts Jewelry166 of 291Bernard Instone Silver and Moonstones Earrings Art and craft silver and Pink stone Pendant
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    Posted 8 years ago

    TassieDevil
    (175 items)

    Hello everyone.

    I love this ring...... Have never really been keen on opals but bought this one simply because I liked the style of it. The seller was not sure if it was a Wager/Judge one, or just from some random jeweller copying their work and that really didn't fuss me at all because I just loved it.....so beautiful I think!

    It has all the usual things.....split shank, leaves, berries and vines, is silver with the leaves berries & vine (which goes down the shank as well) in gold.

    It is I believe, a boulder opal.....

    Love to hear your thoughts, ideas on this, thanks

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    Comments

    1. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Thanks very much vetraio50 and katherinescollections for looking and the love!
    2. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Many thanks kyratango and NevadaBlades for the love!
    3. racer4four racer4four, 8 years ago
      I can't comment on who made this Devil but I do think it's a boulder opal: a big one and really beautiful.
      The pinks, purples and specks of green are better than art!
    4. Peasejean55 Peasejean55, 8 years ago
      I think Jewels1900, this one is for you. I'm taking a guess, I think this ring does have a look of the Wagers. I hope I'm right.
    5. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Thanks for your lovely comment Racer....I think I like it so much because the colours come and go depending on the light.....more subtle, which is what I like!
    6. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Thanks Peasejean55 for the love and comment....would love Jewels1900 to take a look!! I hope you are right too!

      I was having a look through your listings and spotted the opal bracelet that had the strange silver hallmark on the clasp......... I have earrings with the same mark so I have posted what it is on your page....hope that's ok
    7. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Thanks Efesgirl....appreciate the love!
    8. Peasejean55 Peasejean55, 8 years ago
      TassieDevil, it's absolutely fine to post on my wall, I'll have a look.
    9. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Brunswick. .....thank you Thomas!!
    10. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Melaniej, appreciate the love.....thank you!
    11. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Goodness.....so many loves!!! Thank you so much to all 17 for looking and loving....it is really appreciated!!
    12. kiwipaul kiwipaul, 8 years ago
      Hi TassieDevil, there are several things about this ring that make me think it could be by Rhoda.

      From the look of it I think it could be Koroit opal, first discovered in 1897.

      If it is Koroit and by Rhoda it would be a rarity, as I've never heard of a Wager piece set with Koroit opal.

      The top looks like it needs a polish, however the purists would say leave it as found, original is best!

      It's a very cool piece.
    13. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Hello kiwipaul! Nice to meet you, and thank you so much for your comment!!

      It really would be a buzz if it was a Rhoda ring.....and had not heard of Koroit opals!! but will google and have a look thank you. It is such a well made ring....and to me it just feels really "silky" and everything seems to be in the right proportions I think! Not that I have actually seen or held a Rhoda ring in the flesh... relied on the Powerhouse Museum pictures only. I very much doubt that there would be anyone in Tas who would know her work.....but I surely would love to have it confirmed one way or the other.

      Oh, and yes the top probably could use a polish....but I am one of those who leave as found.

      Thanks again for taking the time to have a look and post such a great comment.
    14. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      PhilDMorris....Thanks very much for looking and the love....appreciated!
    15. Jewels1900 Jewels1900, 8 years ago
      Yay! Tassie, you have yourself a Wager ring. That angular, clipped leaf with that bubble like texture is right-on. Plus the way the shank is soldered onto the top is indicative of Wager. I'd say this is Rhoda, its an earlier one.

      I'm no expert on opals, but I've never seen a Wager piece like this one. Dorothy's notes are in the Powerhouse & in it she describes how the gem dealers would come into their workshop/store with bags full of gems. Rhoda loved them all so much she couldn't choose so she'd buy the whole bag.
    16. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Oh my goodness, thank you so much Jewels1900....gosh I am just so excited!! I don't know what to say.....thank you to you, and kiwipaul for his thoughts which gave me hope, and peasejean and just everyone for their lovely and helpful comments and all the loves.....so will mark out as solved!!
    17. Peasejean55 Peasejean55, 8 years ago
      Whow, I'm really pleased that this ring is Rhoda Wager, you have a wonderful treasure. :-)
    18. Jewels1900 Jewels1900, 8 years ago
      No worries Tassie. Enjoy your ring, I'd be very happy to have one like it in my collection.
    19. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Thank you so much peasejean55....I am still smiling from ear to ear !
    20. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Thank you jewels1900....and if I can find someone to confirm the opal to be the Koroit one that kiwipaul mentioned, I will post that info for you.
    21. Emme Emme, 8 years ago
      What a fabulous ring. I must confess, seeing this ring only serves to make me want to go thrifting today.
    22. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Thanks Emme for the love and yes, the thrill of the hunt is great!!
    23. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Thanks for the love glassiegirl!
    24. kiwipaul kiwipaul, 8 years ago
      Jewels1900's comments above are very interesting re Rhoda Wager "tells". I've gone back and looked at all the rings on the Powerhouse site and see they all have the split shank soldered onto the bezel on either side like TassieDevil's ring above.

      Jewels1900's description of the "bubble" in the leaf is also another very useful tell.

      I'd like to add another tell - the fine gauge of the wire used for the vines that wrap around the ring, and how these often originate on the shank.

      Based on these 3 "tells" I can now see my two silver and opal rings on Show and Tell are NOT Rhoda Wager, but are "School of". C'est la vie!

      And congratulations TassieDevil, I'm certain yours is by Rhoda, and rare and interesting because of the unusual opal.
    25. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Thank you very much Kiwipaul, very grateful to you and Jewels1900 for such detailed "tells"...... I had no idea.....but have had a more detailed look on the ring now to pick out the "tells"!! Just wonderful knowledge you both have.

      I am sorry your rings haven't made the cut....how disappointing!!!! But really, I was just incredibly lucky with buying this one, as I loved it regardless, and it was the first opal for me as well.

      Thank you for your congratulations, love and informative posts.... really appreciated!
    26. Jewels1900 Jewels1900, 8 years ago
      With Australian Arts & Crafts jewellery, although it's getting harder to find, you can buy pieces that are at the same level of quality as the Wagers. Our problem is that the Australian movement is not well documented and good quality makers unknown (more so than British or American or even NZ).

      We had many Arts & Crafts Societies around the country & the NSW Arts & Crafts societies encouraged jewellers to make jewellery with Australian motifs to be exhibited in their shows. So there's plenty of Aussie jewellery, like Paul's, that is great quality and well designed.

      You never know when a catalogue, original photos or collections of attributable jewellery may be found & we'll be able to attribute some of our unknown pieces. So I say buy what you can when you can. There's still lots of information to be unearthed.

      Even the Wager pieces are difficult to attribute. Rhoda was so frequently copied. I have a pair of earrings that I can find the original design in the Powerhouse's Wager archives. But they are not made by Wager; I have other pieces by the same maker that are clearly not Wager. I know her clipped leaf design and her grape leaf design. I also know Dorothy's round flower design. But other than that its very hard to attribute other Wager designs.
    27. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Hi jewells1900
      I would say all old Australian Jewellery is getting harder to find.... but you can get lucky sometimes....just have to be in the right place at the right time!! Kiwipaul's rings are beautiful regardless of the maker....I would love to find some!!

      For research on 19th & 20th century Australian Jewellery, I have the Anne Schofield and Kevin Fahy book which is terrific......but I still have unidentified pieces in my collection. As you say....maybe one day more information will surface and we can identify our mystery makers. Meanwhile, I will be buying what I can when I can lol.

      Have enjoyed reading your post, thanks
    28. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Many thanks davyd286 for having a look and the like!
    29. antiquerose antiquerose, 8 years ago
      Oh WOWSER !!!
    30. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Thanks Rose.....pretty exciting!!!
    31. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Many thanks windwalker for havin a look, and the love!
    32. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Whoops..."having" that should be!
    33. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Thank you so much for the love nicefice!
    34. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Many thanks artislove and AnneLanders for you kind love!
    35. AnneLanders AnneLanders, 8 years ago
      I just adore this ring :) and the designer
    36. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Thanks so much for such a lovely comment AnneLanders!! I really appreciate it!!
    37. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Many thanks Hoipolloi for looking and the love!!
    38. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      BelleEpoque....thank you!! Appreciate you taking the time to look and love!!
    39. katherinescollections katherinescollections, 8 years ago
      Congratulations on your treasure find, Judy!!! :)
    40. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Thanks very much for the love rose!!!

      Thanks Katherine and for the love......I was pretty excited as you could probably tell!!!
    41. katherinescollections katherinescollections, 8 years ago
      Don't blame you a bit, and we share in your excitement. It's the thing we collectors live for, the big wonderful find. :)
    42. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Radegunder and ho2cultcha, thank you both for taking the time to look and the love....I really appreciate it, thank you!!!
    43. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Thanks Katherine for the lovely comment!!!!
    44. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 7 years ago
      ORoy, thanks very much for taking the time to look all the way back to this post and to love it!!:-)
    45. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 6 years ago
      Pascale and Jenni, many thanks for the love, sincerely appreciated :-)
    46. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 6 years ago
      Appreciate the love Phil, thank you:-)

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