"This 18k yellow gold & silver Victorian Decorative Arts piece can also be worn as a ring. It features a meticulously detailed stork clasping something in its claws and is not only intriguing but also masterfully crafted. The item being clasped turns out to be a long necked jar crafted from a giant natural baroque pearl similar in size to those highlighted in many royal jewels! Three other small gems in the piece include: a seed pearl, an onyx and a turquoise. The stork is fashioned from & engraved in silver; embellished with gold accents on the beak, claws, wings and tail. Source of inspiration: Aesops fable- •The fox and the storkê _ Made in France _ Dimensions: 3.72cm (1.46 in) _ Weight: 17.30g _ Circa 1850-1870 _ Excellent condition. Besides the intruiging subject of a bird holding something in its claws, it turns out that this ""something"" happens to be a huge natural baroque pearl. Pearls of this size have been subject to admiration over centuries and can be found in many royal pieces! We hope you will enjoy looking and learning about this piece as much as we did! Antique jewelry object group: object dart (possible to wear as ring) Condition: excellent condition Country of origin: France Period: ca. 1850-1870 Style: Victorian - Victorian decorative arts refers to the style of decorative arts during the Victorian era. The Victorian era is known for its eclectic revival and interpretation of historic styles and the introduction of cross-cultural influences from the middle east and Asia in furniture, fittings, and Interior decoration. Victorian design is widely viewed as having indulged in a regrettable excess of ornament. The Arts and Crafts movement, the aesthetic movement, Anglo-Japanese style, and Art Nouveau style have their beginnings in the late Victorian era. Source of inspiration: Aesops fable: ""The fox and the stork"". Aesops fable: ""The Fox and the Stork"": At one time the Fox and the Stork were on visiting terms and seemed very good friends. So the Fox invited the Stork to dinner, and for a joke put nothing before her but some soup in a very shallow dish. This the Fox could easily lap up, but the Stork could only wet the end of her long bill in it, and left the meal as hungry as when she began. ""I am sorry,"" said the Fox, ""the soup is not to your liking."" ""Pray do not apologize,"" said the Stork. ""I hope you will return this visit, and come and dine with me soon."" So a day was appointed when the Fox should visit the Stork; but when they were seated at table all that was for their dinner was contained in a very long-necked jar with a narrow mouth, in which the Fox could not insert his snout, so all he could manage to do was to lick the outside of the jar. ""I will not apologize for the dinner,"" said the Stork: ""One bad turn deserves another."" More background information on Aesop - Aesop (c. 620_564 BC) was a fabulist or story teller credited with a number of fables now collectively known as Aesops Fables. Although his existence remains uncertain and (if they ever existed) no writings by him survive, numerous tales credited to him were gathered across the centuries and in many languages in a storytelling tradition that continues to this day. In many of the tales, animals speak and have human characteristics. (from: Wikipedia) Theme: The stork holding and eating from the long-necked jar with narrow mouth Material: 18k yellow gold and silver. Technique: The stork is skillfully modelled and engraved in silver that has been richly and yet tastefully embellished with gold accents. See the storks crest, beak, claws, tale, and the outlines of the wings. Extra information: It is almost certain that this piece of art started as a decoration for another, even more, impressive piece. The way the ring to hold it, looks rather simple on first sight but we fully understand and support the way of thinking of the goldsmith who made it. It respects the original piece of art by a master goldsmith and does not alter it in any way. That is why we decided to offer it in the same manner as we found it. Precious stones: One big baroque pearl used as the jar that the stork is holding, one seed pearl at the outside of the bottom of the ""jar"". Two little cabochon cut stones, one onyx and one turquoise Birthstones: Pearl is the birthstone (or month stone) for June, turquoise for December and onyx for July. Hallmarks: The ring is hallmarked with the French control mark for 18K gold representing an eagles head that was in use in France from about 1838. We couldnt find any hallmarks on the stork. Dimensions: 3.72 cm (1.46 inch) Weight: 17.30 gram (11.12 dwt) Ring size Continental: 54 & 17_ , Size US 6_ , Size UK: N Resizing: Free resizing (only for extreme resizing we have to charge). Reference N: 09357-4261 Copyright photography: Adin, fine antique jewelry "