This is what I believe: that I am I. That my soul is a dak forest. That my known self will never be more than a little clearing in the forest. That gods, strange gods, come forth from the orest into the clearing of my known self, and then go back. That I must have the courage to let them come and go.
D.H. Lawrence
renaissance revival emerald ring
A late nineteenth century ring of renaissance revival design, centering a table cut emerald with scrolling shoulders decorated with blue, red, and green enamel, set in 14k gold, size 6.5, 6.2 grams, circa 1860.
Revivalist jewelry of numerous types was popular during the mid- to late-nineteenth century. As today, there was a fascination with jewelry and techniques from centuries past often spurred on by archaeological discoveries at the time. Renaissance jewelry was of particular interest during the 1860s when prominent jewelers began recreating and embellishing designs from the sixteenth century, from rings to pendants to necklaces. Very little true Renaissance jewelry has survived to the present day, and many pieces created in the Renaissance style date from this period.