VICTORIAN ELEPHANT HAIR & 14CT GOLD BAND RING

Victorian period

This is a gorgeous elephant hair and high carat gold three band ring.

The top and bottom bands are made of high carat rolled gold tubes.

The central band is made of a single strand of Elephant hair partially wrapped in a high carat gold tube.

The bands are held together with four interlinking straps made of a high carat rolled gold.

The ring dates to around 1880/1890; these rings were often bought as souvenirs during the British Raj, when Western European adventurers started visiting India and would commission elephant hair jewellery as a souvenir of their safari experience.

The single strands of hair were taken from the elephants tail, and wrapped in gold.

Elephant hair jewellery is seen to prevent illness and harm, as well as bring love and luck.

MEASUREMENTS

Size approx: UK: L 1/2 US: 6

MATERIALS

Elephant hair & 14ct rolled gold

Rolled gold was first created in England in the 19th century. It is made by fusing sheets of 9ct or higher gold either side of a base metal.

The metals are heat bonded then rolled into flat sheets.

Rolled gold has around 100 times more gold content, than plated gold.

CONDITION

Excellent

Small testing marks visible in base of the interlinking straps.