Victorian Saphiret Man in the Moon Ring

A rare Victorian saphiret glass man in the moon, displaying vibrant shifting rainbow colors, set in a mid-20th century 14k ring mounting. Saphiret is an art glass invented in the mid 19th century in the city of Gablonz in what is now the Czech Republic, made by fusing karat gold with blue glass to achieve shimmering and etheral color effects, the depths of which depend on the amount of gold in the formula.

Details: Likely originally set as a brooch or button, the moon itself measures approximately 15.2 mm wide, the ring face is 5/8" in diameter. Marked for 14k inside the band, The ring weighs approximately 4.5 grams.

Size: Currently size 6 and resizable at least two full sizes without issue. Please send us a message before purchase if you are interested in the details of our sizing service.

Condition: In excellent antique condition the saphiret is free from any chips or noticeable scratches. The mounting shows a light patina commensurate with its age and a tiny hole directly behind the glass, which may be a vent needed for heat release during the mounting's construction.

History: There are a multitude of folk traditions world-wide surrounding the Man in the Moon: that he was banished to the moon for working on the Sabbath, or as the Romans believed, for stealing sheep. He exists in mythologies across cultures, though the examples of lunar pareidolia don't always refer to a man's face, in some stories he's a man carrying a sack, or a boy gathering sticks.

Personally I like one of the old European tales that he's up there getting drunk on wine and eating porridge.