Ring

In 2008, the Léon Courtin - Marcelle Bouché Fund acquired an exceptional ring designed by Henry van de Velde. This is the only ring that can be attributed with certitude to this versatile artist. Jewellery created by Henry van de Velde is exceptionally rare and previously no Belgian museum was fortunate enough to have such a gem. The ring has become a reference for the jewellery created by van de Velde. This unique ring was commissioned from Henry van de Velde by an important Belgian family. Raphaël Petrucci had it made for his wife Claire Verwee, to mark the birth of their daughter Clairette Petrucci, who would later become the wife of Marcel Wolfers. It is thanks to the entries that Claire Verwee made in her diary that the artist who designed the ring and its date of creation can be unquestionably identified. In creating this ring, Henry van de Velde applied the principle of rotating a motif through 180°, a feature that he had never previously employed in his designs. He resorted to dynamic lines that leant themselves to multiple variations. The central diamond serves as the centre of rotation and point of convergence for the ring, showing off its opposing movements and creating a stunning design. Website Musées Royaux d’Art et d’Histoire Further information about the Léon Courtin-Marcelle Bouché Fund (in French)