There is something endlessly fascinating about an object that has lived more than one life. This ring began as a tiny work of Japanese art, painstakingly crafted to be admired in another form entirely, before finding new purpose in the hands of an early twentieth-century jeweler. The smiling figure is believed to be Daikoku, one of Japan’s Seven Lucky Gods, revered as the bringer of prosperity, abundance, and good fortune. Shown holding his magical mallet and treasured sack, he serves as a quiet reminder that fortune often favors those who recognize beauty where others might overlook it.

The shakudō panel was handcrafted in Japan around the 1870s and later mounted in an unmarked 15 karat gold ring around 1910, reflecting the wave of enthusiasm for Japanese decorative arts that swept Europe during the late Victorian and Edwardian periods. Shakudō is a traditional Japanese alloy of copper with a small amount of gold that develops its distinctive blue-black patina through a specialized finishing process. Fine details are then overlaid with gold, creating remarkable contrast and depth. The ring is unmarked but tests as 15 karat gold. It is a size 9.

Whether you are drawn to Japanese art, antique jewelry, or simply the romance of objects that have traveled through cultures and generations, this ring is a wonderful conversation piece. It preserves not only the artistry of the Meiji metalworker who first created it, but also the taste of the jeweler who recognized that this miniature sculpture deserved to be worn and admired for another century.