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Book Your Virtual ConsultationAn unusual Berlin IronA black-lacquered cast iron material used in jewellery making beginning c. 1790. Originating in Silesia, Prussia at the Gleiwitz Foundry, the Royal Berlin Foundry and a manufacturer in Horovice, Bohemia all produced jewellery in this manner. The French subsequently followed suit, Fer de Berlin, after Napoleon absconded with the casting moulds on his march on... ring that was made circa 1810. The Berlin iron plaque features a relief of lead and the swan. Leda was seduced and impregnated by a swan, who was really Zeus, the Olympian king of the gods who had taken a fancy to her. The encounter happened on the very same night Leda made love with her mortal husband King Thestius. It is mounted in 9ct37.5% pure gold (or 375 parts pure gold and 625 parts other metals) gold with a reeded 9ct gold shankThe circle of metal that attaches to the decorative part of a ring and encircles the finger..
Berlin Iron gained international attention during the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815) when the Prussian Royal family requested that the aristocracy and upper classes contribute their precious jewellery to help fund the War of Liberation. In return, these citizens were given iron jewellery as gifts for their loyalty, and many of those pieces were inscribed with the phrase “Gold gab ich für Eisen” (I gave gold for iron). The craftsmanship is extraordinary and the pieces were given a matte black lacquer finish to help prevent rusting. The process had originated with the Gleiwitz Foundry in Silesia, Prussia, in the 1790s, it then moved to Berlin in 1804.
Berlin iron is highly collectable today because of it’s rarity and it’s history.
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A rare ring.
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