Some rings are beautiful and others tell a story. This remarkable signet ring does both!
Created in rich 18 carat gold, the ring has the wonderfully buttery appearance so often found in fine antique gold. Its oval bezel is set with a polished bloodstone with a rich green hue. Around the edge of the stone are the surviving traces of delicate hand engraving, softened by time, while inside the band is a highly ornate engraved letter 'A'. A personal detail whose meaning has long since been lost to history unfortunately but still darling addition.
It is the provenance accompanying the ring, however, that makes it truly exceptional!
Included with the ring is a handwritten note by Philip B. Chatwin, recording the history that had been passed down through his family. According to the note, the ring belonged to his father, J. Chatwin, the distinguished Birmingham architect responsible for numerous churches, civic buildings and country houses during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The note states that the ring was made for J. Chatwin by Henry Gillot, using gold from the Clogau mine in North Wales, as a gesture of thanks for architectural or jewellery designs J. Chatwin had produced for the Gillot family.
While we have been unable to conclusively verify every detail recorded in the note, our research does reveal strong connections. The Gillot family were prominent industrialists and investors with interests in mining and metals, and they owned property in both Birmingham and North Wales. J. Chatwin is also known to have undertaken architectural commissions in North Wales, making the account a compelling and entirely plausible piece of family history.
The mention of Clogau Gold is particularly fascinating. During the late nineteenth century, the Clogau mine in North Wales gained an international reputation for producing exceptionally rich Welsh gold. Its rarity and distinctive warm colour made it highly prized, and in the twentieth century Welsh gold from Clogau became closely associated with the British Royal Family. Since the wedding of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 1923, Welsh gold has traditionally been used to create the wedding rings of many senior members of the Royal Family, lending the mine an enduring place in Britain's jewellery heritage.
Whether appreciated for its handsome design, its beautifully mellow gold, or the remarkable provenance that accompanies it, this is wonderfully unique. It is a tangible link to the worlds of architecture, industry and Welsh mining at the close of the Victorian era.
Complete with its original handwritten note, this is an exceptional collector's piece, offering not only an antique signet ring of considerable charm but also a fascinating glimpse into the lives and relationships of those who commissioned, designed and wore it.
Item Details
ERA: Victorian
MEASUREMENTS: K (UK/AU) 5 (US)
WEIGHT: 6.0 grams
HALLMARK / MATERIAL: Unhallmarked '18'
CONDITION: This ring is in lovely antique condition with a fine patina of wear across the gold as well as a possible historical sizing at the back of the band
Please note the antique box is for display only
