Arts & Crafts 14k Gold & Pearl Solitaire Ring Theodore Pond USA Antique c 1910

A beautiful hand crafted antique arts and crafts ring made of 14k yellow gold and set with a large pearl - possibly natural rather than cultured. The ring was made by an important American maker, Theodore Hanford Pond (1873 -1933) and has his mark POND inside the shank.

Pond was an American writer, lecturer, educator, craftsman and museum director. He attended Pratt Insitute from 1888 to 1892 and subsequently designed glass for Tiffany Studios. He held various academic positions including one at the Rhode Island School of Design and directed the Pond Applied Arts Studios from 1911 - 1914.

This superb hand cast ring reflects his belief that metalsmiths should be able to execute their pieces from beginning to end. It is likely Pond carved the wax and cast the ring himself, as a practitioner who did a bit of everything. There are some surface markings that suggests that the ring was cast.

The ring has an art nouveau inspired head with a scrolls and foliage design and the round pearl is  6.8 mm diameter. It has a good lustre and a slightly uneven surface when viewed with a glass, possibly indicative of a natural pearl although cultured pearls were also used at this time.

The ring is a size Q or US 8 1/2. It is in good antique condition. It has been made larger at some time and a piece fitted into the shank. There is a slight stress tear inside the shank and towards the head associated with this work. The ring is in good condition and ready to wear. It weighs 3.8g. 

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