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Directory: Antiques: Decorative Art: Jewelry: Continental: Pre 1920: Item # 1460364

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Moylan-Smelkinson/The Spare Room
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P.O. Box 4684
Baltimore, Maryland 21212
tel. 410-435-3738

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This fancy gold lined iron band reads "Gold Gab Ich Fur Eisen", meaning "I gave gold for iron", and was part of a patriotic effort to fund the Austro Hungarian War whereupon German citizens were asked to donate their gold jewelry and other gold articles and in return they would receive iron rings with these patriotic inscriptions. The movement spawned from an earlier movement during the war of 1812 when Germans were asked to donate their gold jewelry to help their country in the effort to defeat Napoleon. The engraved initials "OSK" stand for Austrian Black Cross (German: Das Osterreichische Schwarze Kreuz), a partisan Viennese association that supports the maintenance and preservation of graves for fallen soldiers, civilians, and refugees of all nationalities. Our gold lined ring was available to the gentry, or higher level officers, while plain iron rings were given to soldiers. The ring was originally part of the Hercules collection, a private collection formed in the UK around mid 20th century. The ring is a size 8 3/4 and is silver with gold accented border and gold along the inside of the band.