Posted 10 years ago
Bluboi
(103 items)
A Moshe Oved silver ring modeled as a figural lamb, circa 1940.
Moshe Oved [1885 - 1958] was the charismatic owner of the celebrated Bloomsbury antique shop, Cameo Corner, which he founded in 1938. The shop attracted an international clientele of collectors, artists and royalty. Oved was an authority on cameos as well as a poet, writer and sculptor.
Whilst sheltering in the basement of Cameo Corner during the Blitz, in order to steady his trembling hands, he modeled the first of his animal ring designs out of wax. The lamb, symbol of ultimate sacrifice, was made from Oved's own cuff-links after he learnt that a client's son had been killed in action.
The base of the ring is engraved with the Hebrew inscription: Where is the house of my father? The inscription is probably taken from My Father's House and refers in the Gospels to the Temple of Jerusalem [ John 2:16, Luke 2:49].
The ring is 1 and 1/8 inches wide from head to tail and 1 and 1/8 inches tall. It is beautifully tactile and wonderful to wear
A TREASURE !!!!!
Hi Bluboi, what a touching story. I've just received the Spring 2015 copy of 'Jewellery History Today' from The Society of Jewellery Historians, and there is an obituary for Hilary Hawkins (Jill Clarke) who worked at Cameo Corner for many years. It was the first I had heard of this shop, the article says it was a sister shop to Wartski?
The front cover features a 'Holloway' brooch, illustrating the article on pg8 by Susan Petty, 'The Brooches That Could Not Be Bought'. Do you get the magazine?
Hi Paul, I hadn't heard of Cameo Corners either until I bought this ring. Apparently Moshe Oved made many different animal rings though this was the best known one. The last time I was in London, I spoke with someone who had known him and his shop, and who had an old photo of the shop window showing all of the rings. Wish I could find some more of them.
No, I don't get that magazine. Is it online?
Hi Bluboi, Cameo Corner must have been quite a shop, in 1933 they sold the Mozaic Faberge Egg to King George V for 250 pounds (half cost), likely as a gift for Queen Mary's birthday. It is still in the royal collection.
You have to join the society to get the magazine, see: http://www.societyofjewelleryhistorians.ac.uk/join_us
Anyone can join, and it quite reasonable. If introduce yourself as owning a Holloway brooch, and ask for a copy of the current magazine, I'm sure they will send you one, they usually send out the current edition to new members.
They have a regular lecture series in London. I haven't been to one yet, but will plan our next trip to coincide with an interesting one.
beautiful!!!
I've just been speaking to a lady who is going to do some work on one of my pieces. She mentioned Moshe Oved. I'd never heard of him, then I see you have this wonderful rare ring Bluboi, on your posting.
It is always interesting when a jeweler makes a reasonable number of pieces, such as Oved did with his rings, and then a tiny hand ful show up for sale. I have been really hunting for another one (of a different animal) and so far, nada!
BTW, Oved's wife, Sah, was a fantastic jeweler. Her work is amazing and also rare. Here is a link to one of her necklaces sold at Bonhams:
https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/13917/lot/136/
Wow, it's a lovely piece with massive price tag.
Does anyone know what hid markers mark looked like?
WPJ, it is my understanding that Oved did not sign his pieces, but they are very distinctive in design.
Thanks for that information. It is so hard to find information about his work.
Yes, you are correct! And his rings, when they show up for sale, are getting more and more expensive. If you can find one at a reasonable price, grab it!
How do you know it is one of his rings for sure.
I have personally held and reviewed several of his rings, so can tell by experience.
Ooh, Blueboi!
I went to your post to give the link to Wpj, because I thought too Moshe Oved :-)
Here is an interesting pic of a tray full of his rings at Cameo corner :
http://www.rowanandrowan.com/Articles/370228/Rowan_and_Rowan/Rings/Rings_ITEMS/cg10_moshe_lamb.aspx
Thanks Kyra, for posting the link.
Here is a link to a lot of 3 Oved rings which sold a few months ago at Christie's. A friend went and viewed them -- condition was fair to good. You can see the hammer price!
http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/jewelry/three-figural-silver-rings-by-mosheh-5947868-details.aspx?pos=1&intObjectID=5947868&sid=&page=17&lid=1
This lamb was in poor-fair condition:
http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/jewelry/a-silver-ring-by-mosheh-oved-5947869-details.aspx?pos=93&intObjectID=5947869&sid=
Thank you for posting that auction. The rings are stunning. One can see why
they do not need to be signed.
Hi Bluboi!
What about this one:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Romantic-Art-Nouveau-style-14k-Swans-ring-with-diamonds-/200988451743?hash=item2ecbd8639f:m:mhQH62wUo8uf_qICE34ISDg
It seems his designs were copied, check seller's other pieces ;-)
Hi Kyra the ring is Moshe Oved work, I've seen a ring exactly the same which a person I buy from was selling. Beautiful ring.
Which ring, Jean? The lamb is for sure, but the swans in my link....
I suppose you're thinking of this one:
http://johnkelly1880.co.uk/product/a-moshe-oved-swans-ring-circa-1950/
Good too!
Hi Kyra, yes that's the one :-)
Sorry kyra, my brain was in dyslexic mode.
The eBay one is definitely a copy (too bad someone has started this!). I bet it is extremely lightweight and the Moshe rings are heavy! I went back and forth between John Kelly's ring (a real one) and the eBay one (which unfortunately you cannot look at in detail). There are definitely differences (e.g., if you look at the beak on the swan facing left, the Moshe one is longer and the swan head is tucked down more). And, the eBay price is a true indication -- a true Moshe ring (rare in gold) would go for many thousands of dollars. If you look at the sellers other items, it looks like s/he is copying some other designs.
Thanks for pointing this out Kyra!
love this again !!
Thanks Rose!
I consulted with a knowledgeable friend in London who said lots of fake Oved rings are being made. So buyer beware!
That makes sense. Thanks.
My grandmother used to work at Moshe Ovids in the 1940s. We have two of the rings in the family. It is amazing to read about the other rings and the history.