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