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LOT 0335
Stuart Period Large Gold Signet Ring with Arm and Floral Spray
17TH CENTURY A.D.
1 in. (9.78 grams, 24.40 mm overall, 20.51 mm internal diameter (approximate size British V, USA 10 1/2, Europe 23.77, Japan 22)).
A gold signet ring composed of a D-section hoop and facetted oval bezel, engraved with crest depicting a forearm and hand oriented right, holding a floral spray composed of three five-petalled flowers and four leaves, set within a beaded octagonal border.
ProvenanceAcquired in the 1980s.
Property of a London gentleman.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11663-197588.
Signet rings were jewellery items serving practical functions, and were pressed into hot wax to seal letters and packets. Personal seals or secreta acted as a legal safeguard, since they were used to witness wills, loans, commercial, personal and other documents. Such rings were often engraved with a coat of arms, initials, merchant's mark or some other personal symbol. Painted portraits of this period portray the wearer with the signet ring on the thumb or forefinger, allowing for practical use.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0335
Stuart Period Large Gold Signet Ring with Arm and Floral Spray
Sold for (Inc. bp): £13,000
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Ethiopian Maskal Cross with Ge'ez Inscriptions
15th-16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £650
A large bifacial wooden hand cross with engraved interlace borders and stylised flowers around crosses to one side, and blessing inscriptions in Ge'ez to the other framed by foliage; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 500 grams, 29 cm high (43 cm high including stand)
Acquired from Owen Hargreaves, 2003. UK private collection.
Ethiopian crosses, called in Amharic Maskal are divided into four main types: a) handcrosses, which can be large (22 to 53 cm) or small (14 to 21cm); b) processional crosses, usually measuring 22-60cm; c) pectoral or neck crosses, measuring 1-10cm; d) apex or architectural crosses, measuring 50-150cm. Our maskal belongs to the large hand cross category, probably of Havaria group, most common in the Shoa and Gojam provinces. The inscription reads from top to bottom: Sdar Alazar (name of locality) – Egzten nute mäsqäl (cross) on the left side, and Egzten Jesus (on the right side) followed by Adoneh Gavriil – Welde Hannah – Welde Michail. The cross invokes the blessing of God through the three Saints Hannah, Michael, Gabriel, who can be also the names related to the family of the priest who once owned the cross. -
Copper La Pieta Plaque
18th-19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,170
A bronze plaque displaying La Pietá in repoussé, in a wooden frame. 2.56 kg, 46.5 x 35.5 cm
English private collection. -
Post Medieval Ring with Crown
Circa 18th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £91
A copper-alloy ring with expanding arms, central crown in relief within a square border, scalloping around, channels to the shoulders. 3.91 grams, 19.93 mm overall, 16.66 mm internal diameter (approximate size British L 1/2, USA 6, Europe 11.87, Japan 11)
Acquired in the late 1990s-2000. Property of an East London gentleman.
