'The Otterington Hall' Medieval Inscribed Iconographic Gold Ring with Saint Christopher

1450-1550 A.D.

3/4 in. (3.26 grams, 18.91 mm overall, 16.51 mm internal diameter (approximate size British I 1/2, USA 4 1/2, Europe 8.07, Japan 7)).

With a flat rectangular bezel engraved with an image of Saint Christopher carrying the Christ child on his back, the hoop extending on either side of the bezel and having a twisted design creating facetted shoulders with transverse ridges extending from each side of the bezel; each smaller shoulder facet engraved with six projecting rays, each larger side with engraved blackletter texts 'pur' and 'bone' meaning 'for good (fortune)’/ ‘for the best'; a foliate design present between the bezel and text, and each word followed by an engraved flower, the remainder of the hoop with a twisted ropework design; heavily worn by its original owner creating a desirable natural finger shape connecting the wearer with the original owner.

Provenance

Found whilst searching with a metal detector in South Otterington, Hambleton, North Yorkshire, UK, on 28 November 2024, by James Sweeney; declared as a Treasure under the Treasure Act with reference no.2024 T1402, and subsequently disclaimed by the Crown.

Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.YORYM-AED39E.
Accompanied by a copy of a letter from the Office of the Senior Coroner for North Yorkshire and York, explaining that the Crown's interest in this find has been disclaimed.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12990-244092.

Literature

Cf. the same legend is found on another gold ring on the PAS database, CAM-7051BC; see also Oman, C., British Rings, 800-1914, 1974, pl.65, for a further iconographic ring featuring Saint Christopher.

Footnotes

Saint Christopher, the patron of travellers, was one of the most popular saints in the Middle Ages. As a supposed early Christian martyr, he was thought to give protection against death from the plague.

CONDITION

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LOT 0340