Early Victorian Pansy Ring
"Take all the sweetness of a gift unsought,
And for the pansies send me back a thought."
-Anon.
The Victorians loved hidden or symbolic meaning, something that was explored and enjoyed by jewellers of the day. Flowers in particular were fertile ground for romantic and sentimental expression, each bloom, leaf, and fruit had its own unique meaning, presented as the Language of Flowers. The pansy, in this context, means "think of me" - the word was incorporated into Late Middle English in the 1400s from the French word pensée meaning "thought". To the Victorians, the flower embodied the virtues of tender attachment, concern, and compassion.
An utterly gorgeous antique pansy ring set with five natural pearls and a single diamond at the centre. The shoulders are perhaps the highlight; wonderful rococo-inspired foliate swirls adorned with the most beautiful powder blue enamel - the rich, pastel colour creating the perfect complement to the warm, high carat gold. English, circa 1850.
Era: Early Victorian, circa 1850
Ring size: L 1/2 or 6 US. Not resizable
Head size: 8.8mm by 9.0mm
Stones: Natural pearl and diamond
Marks: None, tested as 15ct gold
Condition: Good antique condition. Some wear and minor losses to the enamel and the pearls consistent with age. The diamond appears to have been replaced at some stage
Full appraisal document provided with each item
This includes a valuation for insurance purposes, item specifics, date, and origins (where applicable)
Gemstones are tested by an accredited gemmologist (Cert GA, Gemmological Association of Great Britain)
Shipping
Express shipping is free of charge and carbon offset
Tracked and insured with signature on delivery
UPS Express (International)
RM Special Delivery (UK domestic)
Buying a Gift?
Leave a note at checkout and we'll include a handwritten note to the recipient. Just tell us what you'd like to say
Resizing
Ring sizing is available on most rings
£35 flat fee
Resizing takes 7-14 days
Leave a note at checkout with your desired size
Note: sizing may remove some of the patina (although we take every care to reduce this where possible)
Layaway
A 25% deposit will be taken to secure the item. The remaining balance will be settled in 90 days. You can pay installments weekly, monthly, or the full balance at the end - whatever works.
Condition
We offer detailed and accurate condition reports on each listing. These pieces are antique, vintage, or pre-loved, often over 100 years old so they're going to have lived a life. A healthy patina and the odd scuff/scrape are quite normal... it's part of their charm! Everything we present has been checked over by our jeweller and should be good for wear for many years to come (unless otherwise stated) but please remember to treat them with appropriate care and consideration for their age.
More Questions?
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alex@lostowl.jewelry