THE CHARLESTON SILVER LADY

This pearl and diamond ring was made circa 1875. It was worn for the first time on the finger of a Charleston bride. It eatures a series of natural pearls and near-y flawless, brilliant-cut diamonds arranged n a period specific filigree setting of platinum. Each pearl or diamond rests within a seies of hand-set prongs made individually to hold each one securely in place. The prongs are themselves set upon a series of hand-pun filigree, circular shafts which give each ection a very beautiful crown effect. Having been crafted from components hat were not native to Charleston, great expense was extended to locate each element. Brilliant diamonds such as these would have come from expert diamond cutters in Europe. Having been cut by hand, the diamonds still sparkle and catch the light, scatering a rainbow of refraction with every flip of the wrist. Pearls were a phenomenon of nature. With great exertion, pearls were gathered and sold by Chinese merchants to those raveling from the United States. They would eventually make their way back to America and be prized by jewelers with a lientele who demanded the best gems the world had to offer. The ring was made by the Cart family of Charleston and likely sold by them; perhaps even from their shop. It was likely a cusom-crafted item, made just to illicit the reponse any female would have upon wearng it on her finger. The light blue silk and leather box it was originally presented in is still in good order with JP Cart written across the face. Inside with the ring is a tattered piece of paper hat simply reads “beloved pearl and diamond ring.” This was written by the last amily member to wear it—just a few words written in pencil on a scrap a paper. Of course this is where the story begins. The ring’s story is tied to a family with deep roots in Charleston. This ring was made in a time when the wearer was likely to wear the ring until her death. In fact, she did. It stayed on her finger for more than 60 years. Then it was passed to the next generation of her family. It was worn another 52 years before it was placed back in the blue box awaiting yet another family member to wear it. Without the deep roots of the family, this ring would likely never have found its way into Charleston history. Without the tenacity and enduring spirit of those gone before, this ring could easily been cast aside for a more modern expression of romantic love and attachment. Instead, the deep roots prevailed and held fast to the new generations, connecting them in a way that few other objects can do. I now own this ring, as the family that sold it to me trusted me to tell its story. It will one day grace the finger of yet another young lady, her future happiness rooted deep in Charleston’s past.

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