Posted 12 years ago
BaileyJ440
(1 item)
This is actually in response to a ring posted by TeresaD (Please see her link
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/13232-old-ring?in=user )
I happen to have almost the same ring and can not find much info on it other then it was made between 1880-1910. I was told by everyone I have showed the ring to that the cameo on the face of the ring was not original to the ring until I saw TeresaD's ring which has the same hand carved face but in "Mother of Pearl" mine is Dark Green Jade. I have included a photo of the stamping on the inside of the ring. I was told this is the stamp meaning this is Silver, but I have researched every library I can find on Asian silver and have found Nothing that says this is a silver stamp. I believe this is a makers mark and almost to the point of taking this ring to a Chinese Restaurant to ask them if they can read it!! lol
One of the main curiosities about this ring is, why are there Asian carvings on the sides of the ring and the face looks more like a Spanish Conquistador?
Any Info on this ring or TeresaD's would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance for your help :)
This stamp is probably a maker's mark for Chinese export and the ring could indeed be low grade silver, 800 or so. It reminds me of what we see on Chinese jewelry from 1910 -1930. I would speculate the cameo depicts a classical Roman figure and the subject is "borrowed" from Italian carvings. The ring could be a souvenir piece made for tourists. I personally love the dragon.
I had a number of these cameos depicting a knight and some carved as scarabs bought from a dealer's old stock. They are what is known as chloromelanite which is a form of jadeite jade.