LOT 0341

Georgian Gold Poison Ring

18TH-19TH CENTURY A.D.

1 1/8 in. (10.02 grams, 28.41 mm overall, 17.91 mm internal diameter (approximate size British O, USA 7, Europe 14.98, Japan 14)).

A Georgian-era 15 carat gold and silver 'poison' ring, composed of a slender hoop of scrolls and crescents with a plain panel at the base, expanding shoulders formed as openwork foliate flourishes set with small stones; oval cluster bezel set with a central cushion-cut emerald weighing approximately 4.06 cts, held in a pierced setting with twisted gold wire collar, and surrounded by rose-cut diamonds; hinged bezel revealing a secret compartment beneath, the reverse domed and engraved with a stylised shell motif.

Acquired from Platt Boutique Jewelry, Inc., West Hollywood, California, USA, 2016.
Property of an East Sussex collector.

Accompanied by a copy of the Platt Boutique Jewelry invoice.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11668-197586.

See discussion in Jones, W., Finger-ring Lore, London, 1877, p.433.

'Poison rings' became popular in Europe during the 16th century, and Lucrezia Borgia is popularly believed to have used one. The compartment within the bezel was used to conceal poison, a lock of hair or other substances.