High carat gold ring, circa 1798 -1800, containing a virtuoso micro-ivory carving of warships engaged in battle, with cannons blazing. The vessels are set on a cobalt blue glass ground, in an octagonal glazed compartment, within a seed pearl surround. The frigates are inscribed in sepia ink with initials T and PG, for the Spanish ship Terrible and the British ship Prince George, engaged in the Battle of Cape Saint Vincent off the coast of Portugal in 1797, where the British emerged victorious. The carving is in the style of  Stephany and Dresch, ivory sculptors in miniature, active in Britain in the late 18th century. The ring is an over-glove sized U [US 10 and 1/4] and can be sized down, and and the front panel measures 1 and 3/4 inches by 3/4 of an inch. Finely detailed micro-ivory carving in immaculate condition, unable ever to be replicated. For similar examples by Stephany and Dresch, see the British Museum collection and Elfenbeinkunst by P.W. Hartmann.