Lost Owl Mermaid Signet Ring
A signet ring by Lost Owl: built in 9 carat gold with a striking green chrysoprase panel depicting a mermaid with comb and hand mirror, inspired by the Mermaid in her Vanity from English heraldry - symbolic of seduction and temptation, but of course also vanity. The intaglio is exquisitely and deeply carved using only hand tools and ancient engraving techniques.
With a rich and varied history, the symbol of the mermaid is as complex and changeable as the sea itself. A mythical sea-dwelling creature combining the head and body of a woman and the tail of a fish, stories of mermaids have been circulating for thousands of years and span cultures across the world. One of the earliest legends of mermaids appeared in Syria in around 1000 BCE when Atargatis, the goddess of fertility, water, and love, tried to drown herself in a lake after accidentally killing her lover. However, the gods would not allow her to give up her great beauty so transformed her into a mermaid to hide her from the world. Atargatis was worshipped in a temple made of gold dedicated to her in the ancient city of Ascalon in the Levant, where there was also a giant statue of her made from pure gold and diamonds.
In sailor folklore, mermaids are said to represent both the allure and peril of the sea. On one hand, mermaids signify life and fertility within the ocean, and are believed to appease the sea, ensuring good weather and a safe route back to land. For these reasons, mermaids often appear as figureheads found on the bow of ships. On the other hand, however, mermaids are also thought to embody the destructive, untamable nature of the water, luring sailors to their deaths and acting as an omen for storms, treacherous seas, and disaster. This contrast between mermaids' personalities as both a beautiful and seductive maiden and a monstrous, perilous creature serves as a fitting representation for the wild, violent, yet fascinating nature of the sea itself.
The somewhat two-sided nature of these mysterious sea creatures has also been explored by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung, who views mermaids as the archetype for the duality of human experience. In Jungian psychology, the sea, where the mermaid resides, represents the unconscious: the hidden depths of the psyche with its vast and unfathomable realm of emotions and intuition. The mermaid’s half-human, half-fish form straddles the tangible human world and the instinctual oceanic depths, and reflects the tension between our rational, conscious minds versus the pull of our deeper, and often suppressed, emotions and desires. In doing so, the mermaid encourages us to explore the deeper elements of our psyche, embracing our emotional complexity, and providing the opportunity for transformation.
Part of Spells & Sigils, our collection of hand-engraved signet and posy rings.
Era: Victorian, circa 1880
Ring size: L or 5.75 US
Head: 18mm by 11.4mm
Stone: Chalcedony, variety Chrysoprase
Marks: None, tested as 9ct gold
Condition: Great antique condition, light wear consistent with age
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
UPS Express shipping is free of charge on international orders over £300 and it's carbon offset
Tracked and insured with signature on delivery
RM Special Delivery (UK domestic)
US Shipments
US Customs charges a 10% "Reciprocal Tariff" on all parcels coming in from the UK.
We will pay this charge on your behalf and you will see it collected as a line item at checkout.
[Last updated: September 15th, 2025]
Resizing
Ring sizing is available on most rings
£55 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
25% deposit 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 and often over 100 years old so they're going to have lived a life. A healthy patina and the odd scuff or scrape is 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.
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info@lostowl.com
An inscription can be added inside the band, where space allows. Add 3-6 weeks to shipping times Add a note in the cart* with your desired size and/or inscription
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