Enamelled gold ring set with a purple spinel held between claws over an enamelled border, by Carlo Giuliano, London, ca.1875.

Enamelled gold ring, with a rectangular bezel set with a purple spinel held between claws over an enamelled border, with a chased edge above a gallery and openwork trellis shoulders

Given by Mr Cecil Crofton

This ring was once owned by Cecil Crofton. Cecil Frederick Crofton was born Frederick William Martin on 10 November 1859 in Birmingham. After a brief career as an architect, he changed direction and became a professional actor. He was most active between 1882 and 1896 and may have changed his name during this period. He was an energetic collector of textiles, silver, furniture and art, in particular the works of Simeon Solomon.

From 1913, Cecil F. Crofton made a series of generous gifts to the V&A, including silver, works on paper, jewellery and textiles. Writing to the Director in November 1918, he explained his pleasure in making the gifts as he felt firstly, that it 'places in safety a few of my dearest possessions' but also that he felt himself to be 'under a debt of gratitude to the Museum... I have used it as a rest cure & often when I have felt tired of the struggle & squalor of our modern life, I have found refreshment in your treasure house'.

This ring, set with a purple spinel in a black and white enamelled border was made by the London jeweller Carlo Giuliano (1831-1895). Giuliano trained in Naples in the Castellani workshop and moved to London in the 1860s where he worked for several leading jewellers, including Robert Phillips, Harry Emanuel, Hancocks and Co. and Hunt and Roskell. He opened his own shop on Piccadilly in 1875, specialising in Renaissance style designs.

M.327-1922