This small ring might look unpresumptuous, but actually has a very interesting history. The round front is decorated with a Maltese cross in black enamel. Behind the front, a small tube can be seen. When you look through the little lens at one end of this tube, you will notice a tiny picture.
This technique of displaying a picture through a hole in an object is now known as a 'Stanhope'. It was invented in 1857 by René Dragon and in the late 19th and early 20th Century, it was often used to decorate souvenirs, or to show risqué pictures. This early and rare ring differentiates from most other known examples because it has a political meaning.
The picture displays 18 men in three rows, and the script below reads 'Les Défenseurs de l'Italie'. It is not a coincidence that this line is in French, since France played a big factor in the Wars of Italian Unification (1848 - 1871).
The man most visible in the top center is the French emperor Napoleon III (1808 - 1873). Next to him on the right are Victor Emmanuel II (1820 - 1878) the King of Sardinia, and his son Umberto I (1844 - 1900). Napoleon III supported the efforts of Victor Emmanuel II to unify Italy.
The French armies defeated the Austrians at Magenta (4 June 1859) and Solferino (24 June 1859). In exchange for his help, France was given the Savoy and the County of Nice in March 1860. Therefore, it is highly likely that this ring was made as a discrete remembrance of these wars, and worn by a Frenchman that wanted to commemorate this important historical period of Italian history.
The line below the title states 'Reprod. Microscopique, Dragon & Co., Paris'. This means that this rare jewel was made by the studio of the actual inventor of the Stanhope, René Dragon.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Size: US 6, UK L 1/2, circumference 52 mm
The front has a diameter of 12 mm.
I advise against resizing this ring.
Weight: 2.13 grams.
Age: Late 19th Century, circa 1870s.
Material: The ring has a small hallmark which I was not able to identify, and has been acid tested as being 18k gold.
Condition: The ring is in good antique condition with only minor wear, consistent with its age. There is some enamel loss on the front, as can be seen in the pictures.
Please note that the antique box is for display purposes only.