38:T7a3,

In the manner of Jules Wièse and Froment-Meurice

An extraordinary French figural ring, crafted around 1850, in silver and 18K gold. At its centre rests a luminous 5.4-carat moonstone cabochon, cradled atop a miniature Ionic column—flanked by two finely sculpted Tritons, the mythological sons of Neptune.

This intricate design speaks directly to the neo-Renaissance revival that swept through France in the mid-19th century, championed by goldsmiths like Jules Wièse and François-Désiré Froment-Meurice. The ring’s architectural setting and mythological references are directly aligned with their most emblematic works.

The ring also evokes the Victorian fascination with celestial discovery. In 1846, just four years before the likely creation of this piece, astrologists discovered the planet Neptune, and just 4 days later astronomer William Lassell discovered Neptune’s moon—later named Triton. With the sea-god motif and planetary symbolism, this ring becomes more than adornment: it’s a miniature monument to mythology, astronomy, and the 19th-century imagination.

The moonstone measures 13 x 10 x 6 mm and weighs approximately 5.4 carats. It displays a strong adularescence under light and is set within a deeply architectural collet mount with classical scrolls and pierced shoulders.

UK ring size O½ (US 7.5). The band shows evidence of an historic resizing which has obscured the maker’s marks, and one of the gold shoulder straps is deficient—though this does not detract visually from the integrity of the design. It weighs a substantial 11.5 grams.

A comparable figural ring attributed to Jules Wièse is held in the British Museum (acc. no. AF.2558), and the sculptural approach here suggests a direct line of influence.

A rare and symbolic piece from the golden age of French revivalist jewellery—uniting mythology, craftsmanship, and cosmic allegory.

celestial jewellery

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