The ring set with a circular shakudo element, decorated with embossed natural scenery depicting 2 quails under a tree and flowers in the foreground, mounted on a plain circular ring shank, mounted in 18K yellow gold. Shakudo element Japanese, circa 1870 Notes: In 1876, the Japanese government forbade the carrying and wearing of swords by the Samurai warriors. There existed many specialist workshops (ateliers) where skilled artisans made exquisite decorations for the sword hilts on the Samurai swords and almost overnight they found themselves without work. They turned their talents to making pieces of small jewellery in the manner of the decorations on the sword hilts, using flowers, birds and scenes from Japanese theatre.

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