Anna Schrarn, 1881 Locket Ring

As seen in the ‘Discovering a 19^th Century Swivel Ring’ piece, this ring shares remarkably the same style in terms of bezel and shape, but embellishes the piece with the popular Rococo Revival patterns of the latter 19^th century.

Where this ring does become unique, however, is that it does not swivel, but opens a locket compartment on the bezel to reveal woven hairwork underneath. The locket compartment is one of the more common methods of construction found within sentimental jewelley – it was a popular element in a design, particularly when photography became small enough to fit inside such a placement. Often, these are referred to as a ‘poison’ or ‘hidden’ ring, but many people take the terms literally, we can safely assume such sentimental rings weren’t used in the poisoning of any persons!

As this ring was constructed in 1881, it conveys much of the popular, streamlined styling of the late 1870s, a time when much of the larger jewels constructed were returning to smaller and more refined design lines, focusing on the bezel as the primary area of sentiment, be it in a signet or a hairwork memento.

A true jewel of loving sentiment and a wonderful depiction of one of the more unusual constructions of the 19th century.

Year: April 7, 1881
Dedication: “My Dear Mother” Anna Schrarn

Further Reading

Discovering a 19th Century Swivel Ring

Elegant 19th Century Envelope Ring

Hinged Ring and Further Examples

Space Oddity; Understanding a Hinged / Locket Sentimental Ring with Hair