Georgian Pastoral Ring

Exquisite small scale gold ‘pastoral scene’ ring c.1770.

This style of ring comes under the umbrella of ‘Georgian mourning rings’ though many such rings with pastoral scenes of country life in sepia paint, with filaments of human hair employed in the composition, were clearly given as sentimental tokens of affection to loved ones.
This  ring depicts a village country scene with cottages and a church, with birds flying above, a large tree in the foreground.

The glass is fully set in a fine channelled Roman setting (unlike the larger oval and navette styles seen in England in the 1780s and 1790s where the glass is set separately in its own frame).

The reverse is inscribed with the initials MC likely the recipient of the gift.

The shank is entirely original despite some porosity to the gold at the solder seam.

The gold tests around 10 carat gold.

Bezel 1.6 cms by 1.4 cms.

Fits between 6.5 and 7.