About this lot

Description

the head featuring a yellow metal circular 6mm disc with a raised bust of the Tsar (dexter), within a border of rose metal, the hollow band, flaring at the shoulders, originally in black enamel with an inscription in gold 'HE......BE...(HO?)яб.19 1825 between two lines of white enamel (considerable wear to the enamel makes the inscription almost impossible to decipher), hand engraved inside the shank 'notre ange est au ceil' (our angel is in heaven), size Q, unmarked, mount tested as 18ct gold, weight 3.9g

Footnote: Alexander I (12 December 1777 – 19 November 1825) was Emperor of Russia (Tsar) between 1801 and 1825. He was the eldest son of Paul I and Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg. He succeeded to the throne after his father was murdered and ruled Russia during the chaotic period of the Napoleonic Wars. In the autumn of 1825, he travelled to the south of Russia due to the increasing illness of his wife. During this trip he caught typhus, from which he died in the southern city of Taganrog on 19 November 1825. There are many rumours and legends concerning his death, one of which claimed that he did not die but, tired of the duties of being Emperor, fled and became a Siberian hermit named Feodor Kuzmich. Mourning rings such as this example were often worn by members of the court following the death of the monarch.

Condition report: Dent to the outside of the back of the shank with associated crushing to the hollow shank wall, and minor crack and split. Considerable wear and loss to the black and white enamel work around the shank. Wear and slight dishing to the bust image, with resulting minor separation of the edge of the disc from the surround and some very minor porosity holes. Some further scratches and minor dents and dings as to be expected from a jewel that has had considerable wear.

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