Arts & Crafts 8ct Gold & Australian Opal Ring

A striking Arts & Crafts ring in 8ct rose gold, set with three Australian opal cabochons within an open rectangular panel of hand-worked foliate leaves, curling tendrils and rounded gold bosses — the organic, handmade vocabulary of the Arts & Crafts and Jugendstil movements at the turn of the twentieth century. The opals glow with lovely play-of-colour in blues, greens and violets, and the whole head sits on a neatly grooved split shank.

The ring is struck "333," the German standard mark for 8ct gold, placing its manufacture in Pforzheim — the German centre from which Murrle Bennett & Co supplied so much of the Arts & Crafts jewellery sold in Britain, including to Liberty & Co. In its design, stone choice and construction this ring sits very much in the manner of Murrle Bennett, though in the absence of the firm's monogram it is offered as a fine German Arts & Crafts piece rather than a firm attribution. A characterful and thoroughly wearable ring of real period charm.

Details

• Metal: 8ct Rose Gold, struck "333" (German standard for 8ct gold)
• Stones: three Australian opal cabochons with blue, green and violet play-of-colour
• Design: open rectangular panel with hand-worked foliate leaves, tendrils and gold bosses; grooved split shank
• Origin: German (Pforzheim), in the manner of Murrle Bennett & Co
• Ring size: L (UK)
• Head size: 14.5mm x 19.5mm
• Weight: 4.28g
• Condition: Good antique condition, with wear consistent with age; opals bright and sound
• Era: Arts & Crafts / Art Nouveau, circa 1900–1910