Carved opal ring attributed to Wilhelm Schmidt for Giuliano. Set vertically with a rectangular natural unenhanced opal plaque in a closed back rubover setting, finely carved to depict a full length female figurine, encompassed by a delicate enameled edge, the collet decorated with additional enamel detail and flanked by ornamental split trumpeting shoulders enhanced with gold granules and flowing though to a solid V-shape shank with elaborate enamel work flourishes throughout. Tested yellow gold, English, circa 1890.

Born in Idar Oberstein, Germany, Wilhelm Schmidt moved to Paris aged 15 and apprenticed for the famed the cameo-cutter, Arsene.

He eventually settled in London and worked with some incredibly rare gemstone specimens and produced pieces for some of the finest jewellery firms including John Brogden, Child & Child and Carlo Giuliano. Schmidt seldom signed his work and the cameos he produced for jewellers were rarely ever credited to him.

It was Wilhelm Schmidt who actually invented the concept of cutting opal cameos, utilizing the matrix of rough opal for the ground. His first example was exhibited at the Paris Exhibition in 1878.