Looking for info on a strange ring, probably antique.

[NightWolf]

I don''t have a picture of it, but I will describe it. I don''t know what it is called, and I think it''s an antique. I am looking for the info for a friend.

He showed me this ring, it''s a very plain ring; no stones, no engraving, no design. It''s just brushed metal, probably pewter or aluminum ( I doubt ). The thing that stands out about the ring is 2 small holes, one in each side. If you hold it up to the sun and look through the hole on one side, holding it very close to your eye, there is a black and white (suspecting 1930''s era) frontal nude photograph of a woman infront of some foliage (trees / bushes ). The hole in the sides of the ring is about 2 ~ 3 mm in size, and it appears that there is a lens of some sort inside as you have to hold it just right to see the picture in focus. The picture seems Victorian in style.

If anyone can tell me what this ring is called, and if it might be worth something please let me know. I spotted this site in my search for information so I thought I would ask a community that seems well informed.


Thanks
~Night

 

[oldmancoyote]

It''s most likely a piece of Victorian erotica dating to the end of the 19th century, with a miniature photo on glass that gets backlit from one pinhole and seen from the opposite one. As far as I know, this type of item went out of fashion by WW1, but to get a definitive dating you''d need to look at the metalwork and the style of photo. My guess is that there isn''t a lens - it''s just the glass more or less in the middle of the ring; you can test this by reversing the ring: if you can still see the image from the other side, there is no lens.

There is a good market for these items, but you need to find a dealer that specialises in them to realise full value.

 

[NightWolf]

Is there any specific name that is given to it. Something that when he does try to show someone he can tell them what it is ?

 

[musey]

I''ve never heard of or seen anything like that before! Sounds like somethin my dad would like

 

[VRBeauty]

Maybe it's something like this:

http://www.geocities.com/eureka/park/3740/articles/stanhope.html

or this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/UNUSUAL-ANTIQUE-STANHOPE-NUDE-WOMAN-EROTIC-RING_W0QQitemZ380118327679QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20090418?IMSfp=TL090418153009r24855

???

Anyhow, please post pics!

 

[NightWolf]

That ebay item is almost exactly it, though the photo is different. I will try and see if he will bring it in again and let me get pictures of it.

 

[VRBeauty]

You''re welcome.

 

[oldmancoyote]

Generally called ''Stanhope'' jewellery, from the name of the inventor of the microphotography technique used.

More interesting info here