Lion Head Ring

I have this old family ring. Tests positive for 14k gold. The diamonds test positive and they are the old old miners cut. The ring size is about a size 4.

Does it look like a lion head? Any idea of age or era it's from? Why is the ring so small? Would it have been used for a pinky? Is this a man's ring? Were these type of rings popular at one time? Any information? Thank you for your help!

 

He almost looks like an oriental figure .

 

woman with thin fingers ???

What ever it is...it's Stylized ....could be a foo dog....or dragon..!

14 K...& good diamonds ?? Those r always popular !!!!!

 

Hi Lisa,
What a wonderful little ring. Just so know you it is mine cut diamonds not miners cut. I am strangely attracted to your little ring.
greg

 

Unusual. I know less than nothing about jewelry but I'm guessing someone had that custom-made based on their favorite spirit or something-you may never see another ring just like that.

 

Size 4 does seem way too small for any man's ring, but the style looks like a man's. Interesting. By the way, my ring finger is size 4.5 and my hands are probably on the small size of medium, so there could be lots of people who could wear this on their ring finger.

As for what animal it is, it does look like a lion's head with wings coming from the head. I can't find a creature like that on quick search, but do see other designs like that:
https://www.google.com/search?q=lio...X&ved=0ahUKEwjv6KKMsODJAhUERyYKHTlFBQcQsAQIGw

 

I see wings instead of a proper mane as well. Is there a name for that? I know it's not a griffon.

 

As an aside,I once was at a bar playing pool and in the pocket of the pool table I found a huge skull ring with no markings . I really thought it was brass or something,till one day I took it to a pawn shop and it tested 14k ! Until that point I honestly didn't know gold could be unmarked !

 

Luck dragon. I suspect the diamond in the mouth is meant to symbolise the egg they often carry or are linked with. It's very Neverending Story.

 

Wow! I think you are spot on Ownerbybear! It does look just like a Luck Dragon. I've been told by family members it's a child's ring. However, it's always been hard for me to comprehend a child having a gold diamond ring. A luck dragon and the Neverending Story can be childlike; so it does go along with the the information given to me by family members. Thank you so much!

 

The Chinese have lucky dragons on anything you can imagine, and the dragon is usually chasing the lucky flaming pearl. It looks like this guy caught one! If it's Chinese that would explain the size too; lots of Chinese ladies had bitty fingers.

 

I think it might be a lion because of the shape of the nose..... Victorian.....Edwardian..... let us know if you are going to part with it.....

 

http://jewelrywhore.com/2011/04/looking-at-on-ebay-lions/

See the eighth piece down.... looks a lot like your ring!

 

of a more superior nature and casting..

 

But still a lion. maybe the bracelet's little brother.

 

certainly in the same Pride !!!

 

This post reminded me I had a stick pin SOMEWHERE that sorta looked like OP's . After many hours of rooting,I finally found it. Until this reminded me,I had forgotten all about it ! Yikes on aging .