Large Antique "Toi-et-Moi" Ring with Sapphire and Diamonds, Vienna, c. 1905

This ring takes us to the banks of the blue Danube, to the city of Vienna. The Austrian metropolis experienced a particular cultural boom from the second half of the 19th century onwards. As early as 1870, the population exceeded the million mark and the city underwent fundamental urban redevelopment and modernization. Jewellery from turn-of-the-century Vienna is often extremely splendid. The k.u.k. The imperial and royal capital was populated by a wealthy bourgeoisie who loved balls and social events and attached great importance to art and beautiful things. First-class jewelry was a must-have for the ladies of the time. This ring dates from that era. The design features an old-cut diamond and a blue sapphire, accompanied by small octagonal-cut diamonds. The elegant juxtaposition of the large stones, which beautifully accentuates their radiant shine, identifies the ring as a so-called "toi-et-moi" piece of jewellery. In the imagination of the time, two lovers symbolically faced each other in the gemstones: recognizable as independent elements, yet firmly connected and symbolically united in one piece of jewellery. The ring is made of warm yellow gold, with the diamond settings of the smaller stones crafted from platinum. It is in very good condition. Its hallmarks prove that it was made in Vienna.

Estimate:£2,454.85

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