Fede-Ring from Schwäbisch-Gmünd, Biedermeier, 1st half of the 19th century, gold
- Epoch/Style
- Biedermeier
- Period
- 1st half of the 19th century
- Material
- Gold min. 585/000, equals 14 carat
- Hallmark
- Old German hallmark "14", master's mark "CB", unicorn mark for Schwäbisch-Gmünd, uninterpreted hand engraving ".G.G.G."
- Size
- 66 (mm inner circumference)
- Weight
- 2,3 g
- Condition
- Good, fingers of one hand rubbed off slightly
CHF 1'150
The presented Fede ring shimmers in delicate, light rose gold and shows the interlaced hands as part of the ring band. One cuff has a cuff button and both sleeves are adorned with leaf and flower motifs. This floral motif is repeated three times on the ring hoop, separated by two simple parallelograms, and was probably stamped onto the gold sheet by the steel engraver using a die or ball press. The three letters inside the ring hoop could be the initials of the loved one who gave this ring as an engagement or wedding gift.
The ring was made in Schwäbisch-Gmünd, the third German jewellery center around 1800 alongside Hanau and Pforzheim. Even then, the small town could look back on a centuries-old tradition of goldsmiths: goldsmiths were mentioned in documents as early as the 14th century. Schwäbisch-Gmünd specialized in silver jewellery, costume accessories and devotional items, often using filigree techniques, but also processed a small amount of gold, as the present ring shows.
With this Fede ring, the old motif of the oath of allegiance is captured in a touchingly romantic way for eternity!