Gold Victorian Bishops ring with stunning enamel work and gem amethyst

A bishops ring is not an every day object in our inventory. In the almost 30 years of experience in the antique jewelry trade we can recall to have purchased only two before. (One of them we lend out to the makers of the movie "The Da Vinci code" based on the best seller by Dan Brown. It was worn by Alfred Molino playing the role of Bishop Aringarosa.)

There is something odd about this ring. Not the bishops ring itself but the ring that comes with it. Inside the bishops ring we found a silver ring hidden with in relief a gold wolf. Bishops rings are normally worn on gloves so their size is "a bit larger then normal". But to find another ring hidden into such ring puzzles us. A hidden ring with a non-Christian motif. What could be the story behind this? Why would a person wearing such ring find it important to hide an extra symbol to this high profile ring and hide it?

This particular ring is set with a huge gem amethyst in a beautiful velvetish dark sparkling color and is elaborately crafted with angels in high relief on both sides. The wings of the angels are enameled in a way that we can recognize as a neo-Egyptian style. Each angel holds a shield, one shield with the Chi Rho sign and the other shield with three letters PSV, most probably the initials of the Bishop.

The Chi Rho is one of the earliest forms of christogram, and is used by Christians. It is formed by superimposing the first two letters in the Greek spelling of the word Christ, chi = ch and rho = r. The Chi-Rho symbol was also used by pagan Greek scribes to mark, in the margin, a particularly valuable or relevant passage; the combined letters Chi and Rho standing for chreston, meaning "good."

According to "The Church Visible", by James-Charles Noonan, Jr. (Viking), the bishop's ring is a sign of authority. In the earlier Code of Canon Law clerics who were not bishops were forbidden to wear rings. As a symbol of episcopal authority the ring first appeared in the third century. By 637 A.D. St. Isidore of Seville would write, "To the bishop at his consecration is given a staff; a ring likewise is given him to signify pontifical honor or as a seal for secrets". According to Noonan, the bishop's ring would later also take on the symbolic meaning that he was wedded to the Church. The cardinal's ring is given by the Holy Father at a Mass following his being named a cardinal.

Update - May 11, 2010.
We received a mail giving us the following explanation:
"I truly believe I know the answer to your question about the hidden wolf ring. It was a symbol used especially by priests who were also Jesuits. Jesuits, as you may or may not know, have a very, what some may call, "sinister" history and a stealthy agenda (which you may want to look into), such that the wolf is the perfect symbol, and a hidden wolf within the ostentatious outer ring fits this "brotherhood" of master deceivers perfectly!"
We do not claim that this is the answer to the riddle but it could be!

Antique jewelry object group: rings

Country of origin: France

Style: Victorian
(more info on styles)

Style specifics: early Art Nouveau - The subject of this piece, although typical 19th Century, announces the coming of the Art Nouveau style.

Period: ca. 1880
(events and facts in 1880)

Source of inspiration: Christianity

Theme: angels - Various Old Testament texts, such as Judith's « His angel has been my safekeeper » and references in the Psalms, point to their existance. This is clarified in the New Covenant when Christ speaks of the Angels as the « little ones». We mention that for those who want their own guide, protector and friend.

Material: 18K yellow gold
(more info on precious metals)

Technique: Enamelling is an old and widely-adopted technology. The ancient Egyptians applied enamels to pottery and stone objects. The ancient Greeks, Celts, Russians, and Chinese also used enameling processes on metal objects. Enamel is the colorful result of fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing, usually between 750 and 850 degrees Celsius. The powder melts and flows and hardens to a smooth, durable vitreous coating on metal, glass or ceramic. According to some sources, the word enamel comes from the High German word smelzan (to smelt) via the Old French esmail. Used as a noun, "an enamel" is a usually small decorative object, coated with enamel coating, such as a champlevé or a cloisonné (different techniques).

Precious stones: amethyst (dimensions approximately 1.80 cm (0.71 inch) x 1.17 cm (0.46 inch)
(more info on precious stones)

Birthstones: Amethyst is the birthstone (or month stone) for February.
(more info on birthstones)

Hallmarks: In the gold ring we find the French control mark for 18K gold representing an eagle's head that was in use in France from about 1838.
In the silver ring we find the Copyright sign in front of three letters "OTT" and the word "STERLING" indicating the silver alloy to be 925.
(more info on hallmarks)

Condition: excellent condition
(more info on our condition scale)

Dimensions: Face of ring 2.76 cm (1.09 inch) x 3.78 cm (1.49 inch)

Weight: 36.40 gram (23.41 dwt)

Gold ring size:
Continental: 69 & 22 , Size US 12¾ , Size UK: Z This ring cannot be resized because of the way it is made.
Silver ring size:
Continental: 54 & 17¼ , Size US 6¾ , Size UK: N

Resizing: Free resizing, but because of the the way the ring is made, we cannot guarantee to make it on every size; so please ask in advance (only for extreme resizing we have to charge).
(more info on ring sizes)

Reference Nº: 09360-4341

See also our:
victorian jewelry, victorian rings, all our rings, christian jewelry, jewelry with amethyst, latest acquisitions,
antique jewelry, estate jewelry, vintage jewelry or modern jewelry

Jewelry with birthstones (or month stones) for:
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August - September - October - November or December.


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