Art Nouveau E Signet Ring

The Victorians were mightily sentimental and loved to sneak semi-obscured messages and hidden meanings into jewelry and other everyday objects. Though "floriography," the conveyance of messages through floral arrangements, dates back centuries earlier, interest soared in Victorian England and 19th-century North America. Bouquets expressed feelings that it seemed couldn't possibly be said aloud, and this trend worked its way into artistic expression and thus jewelry as well.

With a name that already tells us more (and more bluntly!) than so many other species and varietals, the forget me not was used to represent a true an undying love, fidelity, friendship, and loyalty, particularly when faced with challenges such as distance, separation, or death. This piece with the inner inscription "G to E" is most likely to have been a token of friendship or love. The chased flowers on the shoulders gently taper into a smooth band, and the face is engraved with an old-English style E.

The ring is signed for the firm of J.R. Wood and Sons, which was founded in Brooklyn in 1850, and continued to be renowned for their wedding bands through their 1975 rebrand as ArtCarved.

A lovely pinky ring, midi ring, or charm on a chain, the ring would make a lovely gift to another or for yourself.

Details:
• 14k yellow gold, stamped and signed for J.R. Wood & Sons
• Size 3.75 and resizeable within reason
• Evidence of past sizing in back of band
• 1.3g
• Face of ring is engraved "E" and interior is engraved "G to E"