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Ring

Unknown

The Victoria and Albert Museum

The Victoria and Albert Museum
London, United Kingdom

Sphene has an even greater dispersion (fire) than diamond and a surface lustre to match diamond. Colours range through yellow, brown and green. Sphene is very soft and brittle, so rarely seen in jewellery.

The V&A owns an important collection of 154 gems bequeathed by the Reverend Chauncy Hare Townshend, a cleric and poet. Sir A. H. Church gave additional specimens, including this one, in 1913. He also compiled the first catalogue Precious Stones: A Guide to the Townshend Collection. The first edition appeared in 1883. The stones are mounted as rings, although they may not have been intended to be worn.

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  • Title: Ring
  • Creator: Unknown
  • Date Created: 1800/1869
  • Location: Europe
  • Physical Dimensions: Height: 2.3 cm, Width: 1.8 cm, Depth: 1 cm
  • Provenance: Given by Sir A. H. Church
  • Medium: Sphene set in gold
The Victoria and Albert Museum

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