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This ring consists of table-worked human hair encased in gold. The ring is formed as a serpent, with the human hair set in openwork gold so that the hair appears to form the serpent's scales. The serpent's head is decorated in bright blue enamel and is set with diamond chips, as are its eyes. It holds a small gold locket in its mouth decorated with chasing on one side and set with woven human hair in a glass-covered reserve on the reverse.
rings (jewelry)
gold (metal)
human hair
enamel (fused coating)
diamond (mineral)
Ring
"Mementos: Jewelry of Life and Love from Historic New England": Vipont de Riviere Doane Merwin acquired a wide range of gems throughout her life. Vipont preferred late-Victorian and Edwardian jewelry, often altering pieces to create custom jewels.
Original to Merwin House (Stockbridge, Mass.),
535
Unknown
Bequest of Vipont de R.D. Merwin
1966.2278
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