This 18kt yellow gold ring is centered by a green cameo, depicting a little boy, likely a putto - a wingless angel - or even Cupid, the god of love. The cameo is encircled by a row of tiny rose-cut diamonds.
Unfortunately, the green material from which the cameo was made could not be identified with gemmological tools. Based on its colour, it could be malachite, but I believe that the cameo could also be made from turquoise which has coloured to green over time: on the back behind the rim of the setting, the gemstone displays a faint trace of blue colour.
A cameo is a method of carving a piece of material, often a mineral or shell, with a raised, positive relief image. Cameos will often depict gods or important people, but could also display animals, locations, or even whole historical scenes. They have been made for millennia and were for instance very popular in Ancient Greece. In the Renaissance, these ancient cameos became very popular collectibles, and cameo carvers continued to carve cameos based on ancient examples since then. This tiny cupid cameo is an example of this trend.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Size: US 7,5 / UK O,5 / 56 mm.
The front setting has a diameter of 14 mm.
This ring can be resized if desired.
Weight: 3.86 grams.
Age: 19th Century, also known as the Georgian era, circa 1830s.
Material: The ring displays a faint hallmark at the back that I was not able to identify. It has been tested as being 14kt gold.
Condition: In good antique condition with only minor wear, consistent with its age. The cameo is still in good condition, with no damages or scratches. I believe that the ring shank, including its two raised shoulders was replaced somewhere in the past.
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