Antique late 18th century Portuguese ring with stones traditionally described as Minas Novas

A late 18th century Portuguese ring, its elongated silver head densely set with colourless stones traditionally described as Minas Novas, most probably rock crystal, mounted on a yellow gold hoop. The jewel belongs to a distinctive tradition of Portuguese jewellery in which foil-backed colourless stones were used to create a rich, luminous effect reminiscent of diamond-set jewellery.

Jewellery Type
ring

Condition
very good condition, especially given the jewel’s age
more info on our condition scale

Country of origin
Although it does not carry any legible control marks, we believe this ring to be of Portuguese origin, based on its form, construction and the type of colourless stones traditionally associated with Portuguese Minas Novas jewellery.

Style
Rococo, or late Rococo taste, with the asymmetrical and richly clustered ornament typical of much 18th century jewellery. In this ring the style is expressed less through scrollwork than through the lively arrangement of the foiled stones across the elongated oval head.
See also: Rococo
more info on styles

Style specifics
In jewellery of this period, Rococo taste often survived in richly set, light-reflecting forms, even when architecture and decorative arts were already moving towards Neoclassicism. The irregular yet balanced composition of this ring, with its large central stone and surrounding smaller stones, fits well within that late 18th century taste for brilliance, movement and ornamental abundance.

Period
ca. 1780, late 18th century to early 19th century
Events & facts of this era, poetry of this era, fashion of this era.

Material 18K yellow gold and silver, the silver used for the stone-set ring head and the gold for the hoop and reverse structure (touchstone tested)
more info on precious metals

Technique
The colourless stones are set on foil, a technique used in antique jewellery to enhance reflection, brightness and depth before modern electric lighting. In this ring the foil backing plays an essential visual role, giving the stones the lively brilliance that made Minas Novas jewellery so desirable.

Minas Novas
The stones in this ring are traditionally described as Minas Novas, a term associated with Portuguese jewellery set with colourless Brazilian material. In the antique jewellery trade this name is often used for rock crystal, although historical and scholarly usage is not always completely uniform and may also be connected with other colourless stones from Brazil. For that reason we describe the stones cautiously as Minas Novas type stones, most probably rock crystal.

Precious stones
51 faceted colourless stones, traditionally described as Minas Novas and probably rock crystal, mounted to create the bright appearance of diamond jewellery.

Gemstones are often treated to improve their colour or clarity. The stones in this piece have not been tested for treatment unless otherwise stated.

Hallmarks
Illegible remains, not sufficient for a formal hallmark identification.
more info on hallmarks

Dimensions
width across the ring head 3,37 cm (1,33 inch)
see picture with a ruler in millimeters and inches

Weight
10,40 gram (6,69 dwt)

Ring size Continental EU: 57 & 18¼ , Size USA: 8 , Size UK: P½

Resizing
Free resizing (only for extreme resizing we have to charge).
more info on ring sizes

Adin Reference Nº
26089-0388

Copyright photography
Adin, fine antique jewellery

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