This elegant sterling silver ring was made in the Arts and Crafts style. We are in no doubt it was crafted by either Rhoda Wager or her niece Dorothy Wager.
Rhoda Wager was born in England and studied at the Bristol Art School and later at the Glasgow School of Art. She attended the Bernard Cuzner's School of Metalwork where she learnt to fashion jewellery.
She left England in 1913 with her brother to Fiji. He was to become a sugar planter. It was while in Fiji that Rhoda made several pieces of jewellery for the 1914 NSW Exhibition of Arts and Crafts in Sydney. While she worked her young niece Dorothy was often at her side watching and helping.
Dorothy was greatly influenced by Rhoda. In 1916 Rhoda left Fiji for Sydney and set up her own business in 1917. She is seen as one of Australian most influential Arts and Crafts Jewellery makers.
Dorothy Wagner grew up in Fiji and moved to Sydney to live with her Aunt Rhoda. On leaving school Dorothy joined her Aunt Rhoda to be trained in jewellery making.
She joined the Arts and Crafts Society in 1931 and in 1932 and 1933 her work was shown in the Society's exhibitions as designed by Rhoda Wager and made by Dorothy Wager. In 1938 she exhibited 37 pieces of jewellery of her own design and make.
Rhoda Wagner usually (but not always) signed her work 'Wager', whereas Dorothy's work was never signed or marked. Information from Australian Jewellers, Cavill, Cocks and Grace.
We don't know which of these two women made this ring but it is distinctive in its patterning and has the same leaf and berry motifs as shown in the above book. These motifs adorn rings, brooches and buckles.
This was a ring that belonged to my Grandmother who always said it was a Wager piece.
The silver setting is in very good condition but you can see that the opal doublet is chipped to the edges. Even with the damage to the stone the ring it self is a collectable piece.
The ring is a size N. It measures 16mm x 15mm across the face.
