Large "Vegetable" Ring with Diamonds & Coloured Stones, German, c. 1950

An unusual form of jewellery enjoyed great popularity in the 1920s: what is now known as "vegetable" jewellery. This type of jewellery got its name from its decoration with tendrils, flowers and leaves, from which pearls and gemstones peek out like ripe fruit. This makes "vegetable" jewellery look like small gardens, made from precious materials in miniature format. This style had its origins in the expressive leaf ornaments of the years shortly before the First World War, particularly in the designs of the Wiener Werkstätten and Theodor Fahrner. Against the background of this development, it is not surprising that jewellery in this style was mainly created in Germany and Austria. These forms continued to develop until around the middle of the century, when more and more leaves, branches, tendrils and fruit covered large areas. This ring is a particularly richly decorated example of this fashion. Diamonds in old cuts, probably from the 19th century, as well as precious colored gemstones are set in white gold and placed between leaves and tendrils of red gold and yellow gold. An emerald, an untreated ruby and an untreated sapphire provide a green, a red and a bright blue accent. The spatial distribution of the polished surfaces in three-tone gold and the sparkling gemstones creates a three-dimensional impression and at the same time an attractive interplay of light and shadow. The ring is heavy and large and richly decorated with high-quality gemstones. It was most probably created in Germany around 1950. An independent expert opinion has confirmed the quality of the materials.

Estimate:£7,600.38

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