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LOT 1858
Large Medieval Bronze Signet Ring
15TH-16TH CENTURY A.D.
1 in. (7.43 grams, 25.67 mm overall, 20.66 mm internal diameter (approximate size British T 1/2, USA 9 3/4, Europe 21.89, Japan 21)).
D-section hoop and disc bezel with 'R' between fronds and crown above; attached to a collector's card with sample seal impression. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom the collection of Dame Joan Evans (1893-1977), thence gifted during her lifetime to a gentleman collector friend from South East England.
FootnotesDame Joan Evans, DBE, FSA, FRHistS, enjoyed a long and distinguished career as an author and historian. She was appointed the president of the Society of Antiquaries in 1959, the first woman to hold this position, serving until 1964. From 1948 to 1951, Joan Evans served as President of the Royal Archaeological Institute. She received the Society’s gold medal in 1973. Joan Evans was honoured with a host of honorary degrees and fellowships, as well as fellowships of the Royal Historical Society and the Royal Society of Literature. She was a Chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur, and was appointed a Dame of the British Empire in 1976. She served as a trustee of both the London and the British museums, and as a member of the advisory council of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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Medieval Bronze Lion of Saint Mark Mount from a Processional Cross
Limoges, 13th-14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £39
Low-relef openwork plaque of an advancing lion passant gardant, symbol of St. Mark; mounting stud to reverse. 16.8 grams, 37 mm
Acquired on the UK art market in the 1980s. From the private collection of an Essex gentleman. -
Medieval Bronze Ring with Mother Goddess
12th-13th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
Comprising an expanding D-section hoop and an oval bezel with a stylised female figure with long curving arms. 7.12 grams, 24.84 mm overall, 20.90 mm internal diameter (approximate size British R 1/2, USA 8 3/4, Europe 19.38, Japan 18)
Acquired on the UK and EU art market before 2000. From the private collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.
In these rings, dated 12th-13th century A.D., the semicircular cross-section link on the front side transitions into an elongated and flattened, elliptical bezel. The carved decoration on the bezel is very rough, borrowing themes from the Celtic Age. -
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Eastern Medieval Bronze Ring with Spread Eagle
15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £52
The hoop expanding at the base, lentoid-shaped bezel with stylised eagle with its wings spread open. 7.57 grams, 24.14 mm overall, 19.12 mm internal diameter (approximate size British O 1/2, USA 7 1/4, Europe 15.61, Japan 15)
Acquired on the UK and EU art market before 2000. From the private collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.
These kind of rings, possibly used as signet rings, find their parallels with artefacts from Eastern Europe, especially in the area of Smederevo. Comparison elements can support a 15th-century A.D. date.
