Description:

Europe, Medieval Period, ca. 15th century CE. This is a solid gold ring with a flattened front depicting an incised design that is probably a seal of some kind. This probably belonged to a wealthy person, as lead was a much more common metal used for signet rings. The custom of signet rings came to the medieval world from the classical, and to this day continue in some places to be important in a legal context. During the medieval period, a ring like this would have been dipped into a combination of beeswax and resin and pushed onto a document to used as a signature. The incised design may indicate that the person using it was not literate, but had instead just a symbol for his (almost certainly his) authority -- not a member of the clergy, then, but maybe a nobleman. 6.5 grams. US size 6.5.

Provenance: Ex-private London collection.

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#115355

  • Condition: Intact and wearable.

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June 2, 2016 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000