Ring
1800-69 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Opal is created when water containing microscopically small spheres of silica settles in cavities and veins in the Earth. Opals occur in a great variety of body colours. Those with an iridescent play of colour are known as 'precious', those without are termed 'common'. Opals contain up to 10% water. This makes them particularly vulnerable to damage from dehydration and from immersion in some cleaning products. Fire opal is a variety of opal which is often reddish or orange. Unlike other kinds of opal, it can be cut with facets.
The V&A owns an important collection of 154 gems bequeathed by the Reverend Chauncy Hare Townshend, a cleric and poet. Sir A. H. Church gave additional specimens, including this one, in 1913. He also compiled the first catalogue Precious Stones: A Guide to the Townshend Collection. The first edition appeared in 1883. The stones are mounted as rings, although they may not have been intended to be worn.
The V&A owns an important collection of 154 gems bequeathed by the Reverend Chauncy Hare Townshend, a cleric and poet. Sir A. H. Church gave additional specimens, including this one, in 1913. He also compiled the first catalogue Precious Stones: A Guide to the Townshend Collection. The first edition appeared in 1883. The stones are mounted as rings, although they may not have been intended to be worn.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Faceted fire opal, mounted in gold |
| Brief description | Fire opal, orange-red body colour, faceted and mounted in a gold ring, 1800-69, Europe |
| Physical description | Fire opal, orange red, faceted and mounted in a gold ring with a coronet setting. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Given by Sir A. H. Church |
| Object history | The V&A owns an important collection of 154 gems bequeathed by the Reverend Chauncy Hare Townshend (1798-1868), cleric and poet. Additional specimens, including this one, were given in 1913 by Sir A H Church, who compiled the first catalogue Precious Stones: A Guide to the Townshend Collection, first edition, 1883. The stones are mounted as rings, although they may not necessarily have been intended to be worn. |
| Summary | Opal is created when water containing microscopically small spheres of silica settles in cavities and veins in the Earth. Opals occur in a great variety of body colours. Those with an iridescent play of colour are known as 'precious', those without are termed 'common'. Opals contain up to 10% water. This makes them particularly vulnerable to damage from dehydration and from immersion in some cleaning products. Fire opal is a variety of opal which is often reddish or orange. Unlike other kinds of opal, it can be cut with facets. The V&A owns an important collection of 154 gems bequeathed by the Reverend Chauncy Hare Townshend, a cleric and poet. Sir A. H. Church gave additional specimens, including this one, in 1913. He also compiled the first catalogue Precious Stones: A Guide to the Townshend Collection. The first edition appeared in 1883. The stones are mounted as rings, although they may not have been intended to be worn. |
| Bibliographic reference | Clare Phillips, Jewels and Jewellery, V&A Publications 2000.
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.8-1913 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | February 17, 2003 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
