Superb 1800s Spain Toledo Damascene Gold Inlay Mixed Metal Dragon Griffin Ring

Presented is a fantastic antique Toledo damascene mixed metal ring, dating to the mid to late 1800s. The ring is easily one of the best examples of Toledo damascene work we have seen, featuring a very intricate design of a sinuous winged dragon or griffin surrounded by scrollwork flourishes. The shoulders are likewise decorated with the same type of mythical beast, and even more lush floral and foliate scrollwork. All the decoration is incredibly detailed and well done in high karat yellow gold against oxidized steel, highly visible and with a striking degree of contrast. The dragons are done in a quite raised style, for a textural element as well. Really a superb quality and highly desirable piece for any collection.

This ring is in great overall condition. There is some very minor loss to the gold overlay at the bottommost area of the band, but all of the decoration is
intact and in great shape. The band has been resized at some point in the past, you can see it as a little section of gold in a slightly different tone.

This ring is stamped 14 inside a shield shape on the interior of the band. We have tested this interior gold layer with nitric acid and guarantee it to be 14 karat gold. The majority of this ring is iron. A heavy gold layer has been applied to the interior where it would touch someone's finger. Also, all the yellow parts you see that are applied are at least 14k gold or higher. Still, the majority of the ring is iron and not gold.

The ring is a size 9. The head of the ring measures about 15 millimeters, north to south. The band is about 3.8 millimeters wide at the narrowest point.

This ring weighs 8.9 grams.

-jm