Ring

Gold and enamel mourning rings remembered at Birmingham auction.

Fellows’ Fine Jewellery sale in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter on September 30 includes an extraordinary collection of 63 mourning rings.

His daring organic sculptural designs re-energised the British jewellery scene in post-war Britain, now Andrew Grima’s (1921-2007) creations are leading the revival of ‘60s and ‘70s designer jewellery on the secondary market.

It was second time lucky for a 17th century ring made to commemorate the death of King Charles I.

Gold wedding rings belonging to poets Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes have been bought by London jeweller Wartski.

The Hôtel des Ventes de Monte Carlo (25/23/20% buyer’s premium) held a sale series this summer that featured auctions devoted to jewellery, watches and accessories, antiquities and modern art.

Kashmir sapphires have acquired a near-legendary status, due to their lustrous cornflower colour, soft velvety texture and extreme rarity.

The timed sale of jewellery and watches running at Hotlotz in Singapore until May 30 features 74 lots consigned from a private family collection.

Dawsons’ (23% buyer’s premium) dedicated Jewellery, Watches & Silver auction in Maidenhead on March 11 included two unusual signed pieces by flavour-of-the-month Andrew Grima (1921-2007).

Metal detectorist’s discovery linked to flamboyant earl who was a favourite of Elizabeth I

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.

A notable source of ancient coins and historical jewellery appearing on the market in 2020 has been the soil. It is the success of the Portable Antiquities Scheme that finders of ‘treasure’ are now encouraged to declare discoveries and share the proceeds of sales with the landowner.

This curious object is the forerunner of a million Christmas cracker prizes. Made in gold and silver, c.1830, the ‘ring’ chased with flowers includes a tiny pin hole which allows a jet of water to be squirted into the face of an unsuspecting admirer via a syringe-like plunger that can be concealed in the palm.

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.

Interest in glyphic art, that reached its collecting apogee during Grand Tour collecting, is resurgent once more.

This George III mourning ring is engraved 'W’m Tipping, aged 17, died 23 Aug, 1792'. He drowned while bathing in the sea at Blackpool.

Fifteen upcoming lots from auctions taking place around the UK.

This Grand Tour-era ring sold at Great Western Auctions (20% buyer’s premium) in Glasgow features an unusual banded carnelian intaglio carved with a putti holding the leg of a large grasshopper.

A recent Stroud Auctions sale featured a private collection of more than 120 pieces of Georgian and Victorian jewellery. Most were rings, among them many examples of mourning jewellery in a wide range of forms and materials.