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Directory: Antiques: Decorative Art: Jewelry: English: Pre 1837 VR: Item # 1460370

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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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Dramatic Georgian faceted paste single stone ring set in silver and backed in 18K. The ring is nicely engraved at the shoulders with an 18K band. The carved paste is set in silver, which was believed to be better suited to set off the cool tones of the "diamond" stone. Paste jewelry refers to meticulously hand carved gem-like stones whose origin is credited to 2 infamous Georges, the first being George Ravenscroft, an English glassmaker who in the 16th century invented a composition of leaded glass that resembled rock crystal. This composition of glass and lead and other mysterious ingredients were further developed and brilliantly marketed by a Parisian jeweler, George Strass, who is widely credited with popularizing paste jewelry among upper class society in France and England. English travelers of means would only carry their paste jewelry in fear of highwaymen. One can imagine this ring being worn during the season in Bath or London. Both the formula and the craftsmanship behind paste jewelry are a thing of the past. What little paste jewelry still exists is all that remains of this historic art form, which ultimately defines paste jewelry, such as our ring, the best. Our ring is a size 4 1/2 and measures 7/16 at its widest. It can be sized.