Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-27
FINGER RINGS.
In Favor Among the Orientals-Mrs. w. b.
AstOr's Collection.


AstOr's Collection.
From the New York Star
The finger ring is not alone woman's pos
session. as any casual observer must confess.
The great glaring settings of red, green and
white, the respondent clusters Of diamonds
which form striking feature of many men s
hands. render it certain that woman has no
exclusive right in the finger ring as she has in
the necklace, the bracelet and the brooch and
the earrings. And why should she. when from
time immemorial kings and tEeir male subjects
have sported the bauble! The art layished on
the construction of the ornament by the artisans
of today scarcely equals that practiced by the
jeweler OF two hundred Yeas ago. The designs
and mountings of rings in Queen Elizabeth 8
time have not been excelled in later DAYS,
owing, doubtless. TO the limited scope for inver-
ton offered by the circular form and necessary
light body Of the metal.
But few collections OF rings exist in this coun-
try. We are too busy forging fortunes to de-
vote time and attention to gathering up relics
In Europe. however. much interest centers in
the collections. A superb cabinet. known as
the LondesbOrO, is the best in Great Britain,
1t contains numerous rings of early English
and some few of Roman times Private hands.
however, possess most of the finger treasures
of Englands great dead. In France such relics
pass by kind of grayitation into the keeping
of the government. In England it is just the
contrary. Noble houses preserve their treas
ures and to this day some of the choicest of old
mementoes are possessed by humble persons
descendants of those to whom the treasures
originally belonged. Signet rings were at an
early day adopted as evidence both of nobility
and authority. Then they soon gained COM
mercial value and every leading tradesman had
his mark upon his hand that it might be used
when required az his signature.
"A ri IN saa
purpor:s to be the seal ring of William Shakes
peare and was found March I6, 1910, by a la
borer's wife in the mill close adjoining STRAIT
fOrd-On-Avon churchyard. Rings were at
Shakespeare's time an almost necessary part of
the outfit Of q gentleman; they indicated rank
and character by their style or devices. Hence
the wills and inventories of the era abound
with notices of rings, many persons wearing
them in profusion, as may be seen in portraits
painted at this time. The Germans particu-
larry delighted in them and wore them upon
many fingers and upon different joints Of the
fingers, the fOrCtinger especially, q whimsical
custom still kept by their descendants The
ladies even wreathed them in the bands of
their head dresses
At the commencement Of the present CEN
tnry harlequin rings were very much in vogue.
At the present time simple gold band is ia
vored, with immense settings of diamond mixed
with rubics or turquoise. For ladies the rings
are shown in all sorts, cclors and sizes. Per-
feet masses OF diamonds, made up to represent
petals of different flowers, are quite the style,
but very costly.
Mrs. Kendall has among her collection of
rings, given her by royalty, ''gimmaI' ring.
1t parts into three hoops, secured on a small
pivot, the toothed edge of the central hoop
having two hearts in the middle. A hand is
affixed to the side of the upper and lower hoop.
the fingers slightly raised, so that when the
hoops are brought together they link in each
other and close over the hearts, securing all
firmly.
On the forefnger of the Hon. Chauncey
Depew may be seen an odd ring which has
been often commented upon. Ii is one of those
mystic German rings which was given him by
one Of the nobility when abroad. Composed Of
middle when the fingers are bent The outside
Ia perfectly plain and is set with ruby and am
ethyst Upon pressing these stones spring
opens and discovers the surface covered with
magical signs and names of spirits.
Mrs: VIM. Astor's collection Of rings is the
most famous in this country. She has bought
many of the old French jewels and has several
OF the rings belonging to the Empress Eugene
One is the noted Napoleon ring" which rep
resents lily in diamonds with drops of dew
npon the petals; The dewdrops are pearl and
the petals are diamonds. Another Is OF tur-
9uoise, band and setting, the band forming
leaves i'll a wreath aud coming up in the center
to the shape Of one large fOrgetme-not. She
also has a snake ring which came from Egypt.
This Is constructed Of line gold wire, which
scintiiates and moves q: If alive; each scale Of
the snake IS back is tiny wire on which is Q
ruby. an emerald and an amethyst. The effect
is marvellous.
Mrs. Paran Stevens jewels have been much
spoken OF. Almost ali Of her notable collec-
ton are diamonds. these being her favorite
stones. She possesses ring oAce belonging to
the Turkish empire which Is certainly wonder
full There is an intricate band, woven OF fane
silver. At the setting 10 lizard made Of
diamonds. In the tail 10 = spring, and when
opens 30 divuige the interior Of the little