About the Item

A hammered high carat gold ring set with an oval facetted natural untreated bright red Cambodian ruby (app. 1.4 carats). Rudolf Steiner; attributed Karl Mohr or his school. ring size: 19.5 mm / 9 ½ USA weight: 12.41 grams dimensions: 2.0 x 1.8 cm Austrian philosopher and writer Rudolf Steiner founded anthroposophy, an esoteric spiritual movement. Its philosophy postulates a path to insight in an effort to connect the spiritual in the human being with the spiritual in the cosmos. He applied his theory not only to medical science, education and agriculture, but also to architecture and jewellery. Steiner started out as a theosophist and later became a great admirer of the German writer and statesman Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. In the Swiss provincial town of Dornach, he built the Goetheanum (a cultural centre), whose organic shapes recalled Jugendstil design. It was surrounded by smaller structures with workplaces for craftsmen and housed the Freie Hochschule für Geisteswissenschaft (University College of Humanities), where the new ideas about shapes and forms were taught in the arts department. Born near Bremen, Bertha Meyer-Jacobs went to art school and became a painter. However, she was so impressed upon seeing a performance of Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen that she exclaimed: ‘I am going to make rings for these people.’ She apprenticed with an elderly goldsmith and quickly mastered the craft. Interested in anthroposophy she was intrigued by Steiner’s ideas on Kleinodiënkunst (jewellery art) and became a devout follower. Bertha Meyer-Jacobs authored several books on Rudolf Steiner’s work and ideas as well as jewellery art. She wrote to Steiner asking whether she might be permitted to use his designs to make jewels in Germany. He gave her workshop full authority, and appointed Meyer-Jacobs as one of the few gold- and silversmiths to execute the designs he made between 1907 and 1925. This ring is a superb expression of the intense communication between Meyer-Jacobs and Steiner. The organic forms are clearly visible in the hand-hammered gold, meant to bring out the ‘soul of the material’, an important aspect of anthroposophical design. One might even say that you can feel the flow of its energy. The deep pigeon blood ruby is associated with stimulating individualisation, a powerful and positive activator. Though it might be too strong for the overly sensitive.

Creator:
Rudolf Steiner / Karl Mohr
Metal:
Gold,22k Gold
Stone:
Ruby
Stone Cut:
Oval Cut
Weight:
12.41 g
Place of Origin:
Austria
Period:
1930-1939
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1930
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Amsterdam, NL
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU12310833352

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