Antique jewelry glossary

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Portrait ring

A type of finger ring that bears a portrait carved on a gemstone as a cameo, enamelled or moulded on the bezel, or painted on vellum and covered with a crystal on the bezel. Some Roman rings bore a portrait of a friend of the owner, and some Saxon rings a portrait of the owner.

Rings have borne depictions of a number of English Sovereigns. Few such rings were made for private individuals, most preferring a portrait enamelled on a pendant, but from the 18th century some such cameos were made, probably carved in Italy and mounted in England, with a few bearing the name of the subject. Portraits are also on the rings mounted with Tassie Medallions and with cameos made by Wedgwood.

From: An Illustrated Dictionary of Jewelry, autor: Harold Newman, publishers: Thames and Hudson