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LOT 0350
Medieval Iconographic Gold Ring with Mary, Jesus and Saint Catherine
15TH CENTURY A.D.
7/8 in. (6.17 grams, 21.27 mm overall, 16.93 x 17.98 mm internal diameter (approximate size British N, USA 6 1/2, Europe 13.72, Japan 13)).
The lower shank with twisted ropework detailing and carinated bands, the shoulders with raised median beaded bands flanked by flowers; the bezel in two panels, each with a reserved standing figure, a female saint in floor-length robe; Virgin Mary on the left panel holding infant Jesus; St Catherine supporting her attribute, a wheel.
ProvenanceFrom a South London family collection of religious artefacts formed in the late 1970s to mid 1980s; thence by descent.
Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13032-247895.
Cf. Chadour, A.B., Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, items 587-588 for type; various versions can also be found in English collections, such as the British Museum in London (Dalton, O.M., Catalogue of the finger rings, Early Christian, Byzantine, Teutonic, Mediaeval and later, London, 1912, nos.722 ff.), the Victoria & Albert Museum in London (Oman, C.C., Catalogue of Finger Rings, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 1930, nos.720-722-724 and 729), the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford (Taylor, G., Scarisbrick, D., Fingerings from Ancient Egypt to the present day, London/Oxford, 1978, no.412), the Collection Ralph Harari (Boardman, J., Scarisbrick, D., The Ralph Arari Collection of Finger Rings, London, 1977, no.193, also with Mary and the Child) and the Sammlung Guilhou (De Ricci, S., Catalogue of a collection of ancient rings formed by the Late Guilhou, O.J., Paris, 1912, no.1171).
FootnotesThis type of ring has been found in England, Scotland, Ireland and therefore appears to originate from the English regions, or from the territories under English domination. For the identification and use of these so-called iconographic finger rings and further parallels, you can see two detailed comparative examples in the Koch Collection. Many of these iconographic rings also had engraved love inscriptions,
although not in our case. These finger rings differ only slightly in ring shape and decoration, but vary in the depictions of saints.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0350
Medieval Iconographic Gold Ring with Mary, Jesus and Saint Catherine
Sold for (Inc. bp): £5,460
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Medieval Silver-Gilt Ring with Male Head Gemstone and Inscriptions
15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,680
With applied outer layer of gold engraved with flowers and the words, “en bon an” (twice) (‘a good year’); the flat bezel with a recessed centre set with a medieval mother-of-pearl intaglio depicting a male bust in profile; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 4.72 grams, 23.64 mm overall, 20.45 mm internal diameter (approximate size British R 1/2, USA 8 3/4, Europe 19.38, Japan 18)
Found whilst searching with a metal detector in Dorset, UK, on Sunday, 30th December 2018. Acquired on the English art market. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.DEV-5E4EDA. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.13069-248371.
The inscription is in black letter appears to read “en bon an”, a good year. The inscription is paralleled on a good number of 15th century rings, often also decorated with flowers and branches between the words, such as British Museum catalogue numbers AF.1057 and 1960,1103.1. -
Medieval Bronze Ring with Ropework Design
15th-16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £46
Impressed diagonal ands to the outer face creating a ropework effect. 1.14 grams, 18.07 mm overall, 15.39 mm internal diameter (approximate size British J 1/2, USA 5, Europe 9.32, Japan 9)
From the collection of a Buckinghamshire, UK, collection established from the earlier 1960s. -
Eastern Medieval Bronze Ring with Chevron
15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £46
Comprising a D-section hoop and a raised lentoid-shaped bezel with chevron and linear motifs. 4.48 grams, 22.84 mm overall, 16.25 mm internal diameter (approximate size British K 1/2, USA 5 1/2, Europe 10.58, Japan 10)
Acquired on the UK and EU art market before 2000. From the private collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.
These kinds of rings, possibly used as signet rings, find parallels with artefacts from Eastern Europe, especially in the area of Smederevo.
