Victorian 14K Gold Family Crest Intaglio Ring of Stag in Quartz Stone

Delicately carved into a quartz tablet, this family crest intaglio is the image of a stag standing on top of a crown and castle. Below it are the letters GLA in an oval, written in a highly gothic script with striped texture behind it. The quartz has a milky luminosity and translucence, in a 14k gold bezel that follows the outline of the tablet. Most likely Scottish, the image suggests Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, where Queen Victoria was known to go deer hunting. The stag in the image appears powerful; deer are symbols of strength and virility. 

The face of the ring measures 7/8” x 3/4”. The ring weighs 10.3 grams. There is very light chipping at the corner of the intaglio. The ring is marked on the back as 18k, but acid tests as 14k, so we are calling this a 14k piece. 

Ring size 8, resizable. The larger size of the ring makes it a great unisex piece, or a male pinky ring. The ring would have traditionally been used as a wax seal for documents.