18K Yellow Gold and Sterling Silver Modernist ring by Harold O'Connor, c. 2000
18K yellow gold applied on oxidized sterling silver, this large and quite unusual ring is by the accomplished goldsmith Harold O'Conner, whose work is very collected today. Marked on the verso 750 for 18K yellow gold and 925 for sterling silver, and, in addition, the signature mark for Harold O'Connor.
This very large, bold and unusual modernist ring measuring 1.5 inches in width with a length of 1-1/16th with a bezel set cushion shaped natural cabochon cut Amethyst.
it is a size 7 and can be resized by a competent jeweler. The design provides an unearthly vision of an ovoid, concave saucer shape, with a U shaped shank.
The mixed metal surface of this ring has finely applied tiny gold bead work or granulation using the ancient Etruscan technique.
It is this extent of stylistic dexterity in granulation and fused metals that explains why Harold O'Connor's pieces have been sought by and are now part of the permanent collections of both the Metropolitan Museum in New York City and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.
Our ring is yet another seminally important addition to the holdings of either of those institutions.
Inspired by sculptors like Isamu Noguchi and David Smith, Harold O'Connor's stylistic odyssey is not unlike that of Jean Mahie (Jacline Mazard). They both have been challenged by sculpture and considered their jewels to be smaller versions that people could wear.
However whereas Mazard has been almost completely self-taught, O'Connor has sought out strategic specialists like Elizabeth Treskow, a world famous grannularist from Cologne and used her circle as his teachers. Indeed granulation and fused metals especially titanium, gold and silver have informed O'Connor's irresistible temptation to explore texture, form and nuanced colors associated with them.
Please note our model is a medium to large size.
All items sold are accompanied by a detailed Statement of Value by our gemologist, as well as all original gemological documentation, if specified in the listing. As always, we guarantee all of pieces to be exactly as represented. Each piece of jewelry arrives in a finely gift-wrapped presentation box.
Over the decades of our stewardship as a small but exemplary purveyor of the jeweler's art, we have strived to offer a fine and authentic selection, in excellent condition, of collectible jewels from all highly sought time periods at competitive prices and even lower prices, if possible. In the process we have had the extraordinary good fortune of meeting remarkable people - some collectors, others just extremely interesting individuals who have taken the time and effort to examine their lives and select things that tend to make them smile, or admire, or just wonder at the exciting endlessly creative and nuanced panoply of jeweled artifacts.