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LOT 0315
Post Medieval Gold Fede Ring
17TH-18TH CENTURY A.D.
7/8 in. (4.08 grams, 21.08 mm overall, 18.89 mm internal diameter (approximate size British R, USA 8 1/2, Europe 18 3/4, Japan 18)).
Comprising a wide hoop, the shoulders with rectangular panels embellished with scrolling motifs framed by delicate wirework borders, the bezel formed as a pair of clasped hands, finely modelled in low relief, symbolising trust, fidelity, and contractual union, the hands articulated with tapering fingers and subtly defined cuffs.
ProvenanceAcquired on the European art market.
FootnotesThe fede motif derives from the medieval formula mani in fede ('hands in trust'), a visual expression of loyalty and binding agreement. Rings of this type circulated widely from the late medieval period onward, gaining particular prominence in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries as betrothal jewels embodying steadfast commitment. The present example, with its restrained decorative scheme and high gold purity, reflects the enduring appeal of intimate, symbolically charged jewels rooted in long-standing marital and devotional customs.
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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LOT 0315
Post Medieval Gold Fede Ring
Estimate £1,000 - 1,400€1,160 - 1,620 (for guidance only)$1,350 - 1,890 (for guidance only)
Opening Bid
£500 (EUR 580; USD 675) +BP*
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Post Medieval Cameo of Eros Riding a Hippocampus
18th century A.D.Estimate: £100 - 140 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £5
Pink wax cameo depicting winged Eros on the back of a rearing hippocamp emerging from the waves, set on a black composite backing with a glass frame. 2.32 grams, 24 mm
Acquired on the European art market. -
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Renaissance Gold Fob Seal with Carnelian Gemstone of a Herm and Figures
16th-19th century A.D.Estimate: £1,000 - 1,400 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £500
An oval intaglio finely engraved with a classical scene, at the centre a herm upon a plinth, flanked by two figures: the woman on the left wearing a gown with loose drapery falling across her arms, while the figure to the right is shown nude, the body scarcely veiled by a fine transparent cloth; at the far right a sacrificial altar surmounted by a lyre, introducing a musical or poetic dimension to the scene and emphasising its votive character; mounted in an ornate 18th-century French gold fob mount, pierced with scrolling foliate ornament and stamped with duty marks; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 6.60 grams, 25 mm
Acquired on the European art market.
The gem, cut in the 16th century, reflects the Renaissance revival of antique glyptic art, where Roman prototypes were carefully studied and reinterpreted with elegance and precision. The finely executed incision and harmonious arrangement of clothed and unclothed figures highlight the engraver’s technical mastery and antiquarian erudition. -
Post Classical Red Jasper Cameo of Medusa
20th century A.D.Estimate: £100 - 140 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £50
Oval cameo with the face of Medusa with flowing hair, furrowed brow and piercing gaze. 1.48 grams, 14 mm
Acquired on the European art market.
