DATE: Art Deco, c.1930
A strange, and to be honest somewhat perplexing, old signet ring with a black glass intaglio carving of a tiger. Or possibly a bull? Certainly the stance of the creature is more like the latter, but the features more feline. I've wrestled for weeks now trying to determine its age... certainly hand made and has a decent amount of age, with intricate engraving around the gallery and strong patina and pitting. With (quite a few) second/third/fourth opinions I'm pretty confident it's from the first half of the 20th century, circa 1930, although I was thinking for a while it could be Georgian or earlier. An interesting ring with cool subject, regardless. I suspect it may have spent some of its life in the ground...
STONES
Glass
MEASUREMENTS
Head: 17.2 x 11.1mm
Rise off finger: 5.6mm
Width of band: 2.2mm
WEIGHT
6.0g
MARKS
No marks present, tests as base metal
CONDITION
Fair, general wear commensurate with age
