Late 19th-Century Silver and Opal Cape Clasp by Louis Wièse

Joan of Arc Ring by Louis Wièse (1852-1930) France, c. 1890 Gold Weight 9.3 gr.; Circumference 56.45 mm.; US size 7 3/4; UK size P ½ Cast and chased openwork gold ring with square section hoop, grooved on the lower half and forked at the shoulder to form a triangular frame for a Gothic trefoil...

Alexis Falize Brooch with depiction of Renaissance Lady France (Paris), c. after 1894 Gold, silver, enamel, diamonds Weight 10.7 gr.; Width 43.6 mm.; Height 22.3 mm. Gold rectangu...

Squirt Ring West European, 1800-1900 Silver, gold, rock crystal Weight 9.4 gr.; circumference 60.38 mm.; cylinder length 41.2 mm US size 9 ¼ ; UK size S ¼ Fascinating nineteenth century party piece, incorporating an elegant and sparkling ring Description: Squirt ring made of a hollow silver cylinder with four ornamental bands and a cap with plunger. This holds the liquid, and when the plunger is pulled out and pushed back in the squirt mechanism is triggered. At the other end is a hollow ring through which the liquid flows and then squirts out of a small hole on the band next to the gemstone. The gold ring, angled to the cylinder, has a tubular hoop and a gold round-shaped cup bezel with a silver-set, facetted rock crystal gemstone. The ring is fully functionable. The cylinder lies concealed in the palm of the hand. Punched on the cylinder is a swan, the French guarantee mark for the fineness of silver on items of unknown origin (in use from 1893-1970). Along the gold hoop of the ring are four indistinct hallmarks: a helmeted head (?), two rectangular punch marks, one with lower case ‘g’ in the corner, and traces of two illegible punches. Provenance: Yves Brasseur (26 February—11 August 2005), Ghent, Belgium, a collector of rings who was a Belgian fencer of Olympic stature, having competed in this sport in the Olympics in the 1960s. Literature: The earliest account of a squirt ring dates to about 1770 with the description of a diplomatic incident at the Court of Frederick the Great. The French ambassador M. de Guines belonged to the diplomatic corps in Berlin, the capital of the Prussian Empire. His pompous behavior was widely mocked. Prince Dolgorouki, the Russian ambassador was invited to a gala dinner as a guest of honor with his newly wed bride. She was seated next to the French ambassador whom she squirted with water from a mechanism concealed in the palm of her hand, when he was admiring her jewel. He vowed he would throw a glass of water at her if she continued. The ambassador’s wife ignored his warning, and he in fact put his threat into effect. The guests at the dinner were obliged to keep a discreet silence surrounding this embarrassing occurrence. The fashion for such squirt rings appears to have continued into the nineteenth century, although few examples are known. The designs and materials vary: bronze ring with mask of Silenus in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Silenus, the god of wine-making and drunkenness, appears again on a squirt ring in form of a garnet cameo...

Portrait Cameo of Emperor Vespasian in a Gold Brooch Agate, gold Italy?, 16th century Weight 10.2 gr.; Dimensions 48.7 × 39 mm. Description: Three-layered agate cameo (black-white-...

Ring with Bust of Tyche Roman, late 1st century - 2nd Century AD Gold Weight 4.4 gr.; Circumference 43.45 mm.; US size 2 ¾ ; UK size E ½ Miniature sculpture in ring form of the Gree...

Twisted Band Ring Silver England, 15th-16th century Weight 2.9 gr.; circumference 51.9 mm.; US size 6, UK size M The wide silver hoop is slightly rounded inside with an original solder point and twisted and beaded on the outer side. Between one of the grooves on the outer side are two out-of-place beads where a punch was apparently hammered in the wrong position. The ring is in good wearable condition. This beautiful, wearable ring consists of a spiral-grooved hoop. The twisting, fluted band is typical of medieval iconographic rings...

A late nineteenth century diamond brooch, finely modelled in the form of a violin, the body encrusted with rose-cut diamonds and the strings, neck and head in rose gold, French Impor...

A late 19th century fly brooch, the bee set with a dementoid garnet, a ruby eye, diamond wings and a pearl body, set in silver and gold, with a further pear...

A wonderful late 19th century Victorian ruby and diamond scroll or swirl brooch set in silver topped 18k gold. The small brooch of impeccable design, featuring two opposing swirl or...

Lyra-shaped brooch – Made in Italy – Late 19th century. The brooch is set with 25 rose cut natural diamonds. The main body is made of gold, while the upper part and settings are in...

9 karat yellow gold brooch with black Taille d'Epergne. The central medallion rotates to show 2 views of the beautifully braided hair work.

A Late 19th Century butterfly brooch. Set with approximately 7 carats of cushion shape, old and brilliant-cut diamonds with sapphire and rubies mounted in silver on top of gold. Leng...