This rare and collectible handkerchief holder was quite a trend in the early 20th Century. During this period, ladies often wore a small perfume bottle or vinaigrette for personal use. One variation of this trend was to spritz a handkerchief with your favourite perfume and hold it in your hand: this holder makes sure that you do not lose it since it attaches the handkerchief with a small gold chain to a ring that you can wear on your finger.
The book 'Chatelaines: Utility to Glorious Extravagance', by Genevieve E. Cummings, Boston, 1994, mentions this quote about this new fad, found in a magazine from 1904 (p. 85): 'One of the newest fads in English society is the handkerchief-ring. It consists of a jewelled circlet to which is attached a very thin gold chain ending in a delicate clasp. This clasp holds the handkerchief, which is, of course nothing more than a piece of costly lace.'
This particular example has a finely worked chain through which you can thread your handkerchief, and which ends in a fine gold ring. The inside of this ring is engraved with the name 'Anna', likely the name of its original owner. The cap that holds the handkerchief in place is decorated with a black enameled abstract pattern.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Size: Ring size US 7, UK N 1/2, circumference 54 mm: the chain is 12 cm long.
Weight: 5.30 grams.
Age: Early 20th Century, circa 1900.
Material: Acid tested as 10k gold.
Condition: In great antique condition with only minor wear, consistent with its age.