Art Nouveau Chinese Jade Saddle Ring 22K with Butterfly

A luminous study in Art Nouveau restraint: this circa-1910 jade ring centers an untreated slab of Chinese jade carved with the period's signature detail, flanked by delicate butterfly forms that cradle the stone with the naturalism the style demanded. The butterflies emerge from the shoulders with a weightlessness that speaks to hand-fabrication—each wing carved in profile, anatomically precise, a motif the Art Nouveau craftsman drew from direct observation of nature rather than stylized convention.

The jade itself carries the soft celadon green characteristic of superior Chinese material, its surface showing the quality that only untreated stone possesses. Period records indicate Chinese jade reached European workshops through expanding trade networks in the late nineteenth century, and artists working in the Art Nouveau idiom were drawn to it for precisely this reason: it allowed the level of intricate carving that distinguished high-end work from commercial production. The stone has aged gracefully, with no visible treatment.

The band is 22k yellow gold—a metal choice consistent with the period's luxury jewelry standards. Chinese hallmarks are present. The ring is currently sized to an 8 and can be resized upon request.

This is the kind of piece that rewards close examination: the butterfly shoulders are not mass-produced blanks but individually articulated, the jade has the depth of color that suggests genuine geographic origin, and the overall restraint—no enameling, no secondary stones, just stone and metal—reflects a maker confident enough to let the material speak.

Gemstones: Diamonds
Cut: faceted rounds
Weight: 2 = 0.07 cts
Color: H/I
Clarity: VS2/SI1
Measurements: 17.8 x 14.7MM Untreated

Dimensions: 11.1 x 13.9 MM Face tapering to 5 MM Wide
Metal: 22k yellow gold
Markings: Chinese Markings
Circa: repurposed materials: diamond link and chain circa 1920
Weight: 8.2 grams
Finger Size: 8 (inquire about sizing)
Period: Circa 1910