Victorian Dog Ring with Diamond

A handsome and heavy c. 1880-1900s gentleman’s ring, of finely chased 18k gold in the form of a dog’s head, with a 0.17 ct old mine cut diamond and a buckled collar forming the shank. The chasing workmanship and finishing is extremely detailed, lending the appearance of a fine coat of fur, and achieving a charming degree of verisimilitude with texturing throughout. The gold surface has been acid-treated for a high-carat “bloomed” appearance. During the second half of the 19th century, a trend in jewelry-making favored chased gold of a figural, sculptural quality. While gold chasing is far from a novel skill, late 19th century chasers achieved new levels of sophistication through a commitment to life-like naturalism, in part influenced by the development of the natural sciences throughout the century. Many Victorian gentlemen remained passionate hunters and outdoorsmen; gentlemen’s jewelry from this era often featured realistic models of various animals of ‘the hunt’, such as foxes, rabbits, dogs, and stags. According to “Jewellery in the Age of Queen Victoria” by Charlotte Gere and Judy Rudoe, animal-themed stick pins, charms, fobs, and rings were fashionable gifts. The fad for chased figural gold, started in Paris c. 1850, soon spread to the rest of Europe and America, remaining popular until c. 1900. A group of chased dog-themed jewelry of this type is illustrated on p.411-13, “French Jewellery of the Nineteenth Century” by Henri Vever.
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