Les Enluminures

Posy Ring “A knote knit in love” England, late 17th century Gold Weight 5 gr; Circumference 57.65 mm; US size 8 1/4; UK size Q 1/2 A wide gold band with D-section and inside the eng...

Late Roman Ring Roman Empire, 4th century Gold Bezel 11 x 18 x 2 mm.; circumference 49 mm.; weight 5.5 gr.; US size 5; UK size J 1/2 Inspired by funct...

Neo-Gothic Ring with Inscription Probably France, 19th century Gold Weight 3.9 gr; Circumference 61.29 mm; US size 9 3/4; UK size T Charming Revival ring with Gothic lettering remin...

Fede ring Western Europe, 16th - 17th century Gold Weight 3.8 gr; Circumference 61.64 mm; US size 9 3/4; UK Size T ¼ A delightful, sculpturesque Fede ring conveying love and loyalty Plain gold hoop...

First World War (or Patriotic) Iron Ring with a Cross and Inscription “Gold gab ich für Eisen” Austro-Hungarian Empire or Germany, circa 1914 Gold and ...

First World War (or Patriotic) Iron Ring “Gold gab ich für Eisen” Austro-Hungarian Empire, circa 1919 Gold and Iron Outer diameter 20 mm., width of ban...

First World War (or Patriotic) Iron Ring with Inscription “Gold gab ich für Eisen” Austro-Hungarian Empire, circa 1919 Gold and Iron Outer diameter 21 ...

Renaissance ring with Roman horse intaglio Ring: Western Europe, c. 1580-90, Roman intaglio: 1st century AD Gold, champlevé enamel, nicolo agate Weight 5.2 gr.; Circumference 57.15 mm.; US size 8; UK size Q In the Renaissance period, ancient cameos and intaglios were highly sought-after collectors’ items. Wealthy owners had them incorporated into signet rings, and in this case, an exceptional and rare ring with sophisticated enameling. The Roman intaglio reflects the spirit of Humanism during the Renaissance, when there was a revived interest in Classical literature and the arts. The horse motif was most likely the personal choice of the wearer or giver of this ring who would have been familiar with its meaning in Classical Antiquity as a symbol of wealth and power. In Ancient Greece images of horses denoted aristocratic status, were symbolic of heroism and the all-important cavalry. A grazing horse as seen here may have represented a favored racehorse. Description: Gold ring with D-section hoop widening towards the oval bezel, plain on the interior and on the exterior the shoulder is decorated in gold against black enamel with symmetrical foliate and floral motifs. The frieze-like decoration continues along the sides of the facetted bezel with dots, dashes and scrollwork, a triangular form with acanthus foliage and fine gold framing line along the base of the bezel with raised mount and fluted collet for a nicolo-agate intaglio. Carved into the bluish grey on brown surface is a grazing horse seen in profile, head bent low. On the underside of the bezel is an elaborate cross motif with scrolls in black enamel against gold. Minor loss of enamel in some areas, through age and wear. The ring is in good wearable condition. Literature: Similar elaborately enameled signet rings set with ancient intaglios or Imperial laureate heads can be found in the British Museum, London (Dalton 1912, no. 308); Tarnóczy Collection; Hanns-Ulrich Haedeke Collection. The highly embellished enameling along the hoop and bezel of this exceptional and rare ring is reminiscent of the ornamental prints...

Late Medieval Iconographic Ring with St Christopher and Christ Child Gold England, 15th century Weight 4.0 gr; Circumference 54.82 mm; US size 7 1/4; UK size O 1/2 Description Gold ring with D-section hoop on the exterior with twisted and beaded decoration along the lower half, plain on the interior. The hoop is slightly tapered towards the curved shoulders engraved with a five petalled rose and stem. From this rises a triangular support for the flat rectangular bezel with outlined border surrounded by rays and engraved scene of St. Christopher carrying the Christ Child over his shoulder across a river. The ring shows signs of age and is in good wearable condition. Literature: In the Middle Ages...

Renaissance Cameo Of Galba (?) in Modern Gold Setting Europe, 17th (?) century Onyx and gold Weight: 10.2 g.; circumference: 51.8 mm.; size: US 6, UK...

ROSARY BEAD WITH WENDEKOPF Germany, 16th century Bone Weight 12 grams; dimensions 29 × 23 × 24 cm A double-sided bead made of bone with a finely carved head of Christ on one side an...

RELIQUARY PENDANT WITH PEARL Spain or Spanish Netherlands, c. 1620 Gold, rock crystal, enamel, pearl, bone relics Weight 12.9 grams; dimensions 40 ...