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Early 19th Century 9ct Gold Berlin Iron Ring with Relief of Leda & the Swan

605X
40 Admirers Rare Find
Written by Olly Gerrish

An unusual Berlin Iron 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 9ct gold with a reeded 9ct gold shank.

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.

The Details
Ollys Pick

A rare ring.

Essentials

Item Number:
605X
Measurements:
Top 2cm by 1.7cm
Place of Origin:
Germany
Discovered:
4 months ago

Hallmarks

Unmarked, 9ct gold
Many pieces of antique jewellery were unmarked because hallmark regulations were not obligatory until 1972.

Condition

Fair
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Very Good
Excellent

Care Tips

  • Take special care of historical jewellery

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