Rare Japan Shakudo Snake Ring 14 Karat Gold Antique Victorian Samurai circa 1870

A very rare ring depicting a snake traveling through the grass in the historic Japanese art form of Shakudo, in 14 Karat Gold. The Shakudo pieces originated in the Samurai period in Japan and were created by esteemed artists who made ornaments to adorn swords and armor. When the Samurai period ended, these artists moved to making wearable art during the period of the 1870s - 1900. Here we have a very rare Shakudo piece of a snake traveling through grass. Notice the grace of the proportion of the images and the Japanese esthetic of asymmetry. The mixed metals Shakudo plaque is set in 14 Karat Gold. In the Victorian era the snake was the symbol of eternal love. It has come to symbolize sexuality, rebirth and wisdom. Snake jewelry is highly desirable and collected today. Provenance: From the collection of the legendary Edith Weber Jewelry from Edith Weber was worn on the red carpets of the Academy Awards and graced many major national magazines. Her store at The Carlyle was described as a historical jewel box with esoteric jewelry spanning the centuries. Her son, Barry Weber said "we are fearless in our taste," always searching for the rare and beautiful. The Shakudo plaque measures 5/8 inch (15 mm) tall, and 11 mm wide. It rests 4mm above the finger when worn. The ring is a size 2.75 US (E 1/2 UK), and can be easily resized if desired. The ring weighs 4.2 grams.