£12,000
Medieval Iconographic Gold Finger Ring, c. 15th century CE.The ring is finely worked with exceptional engraving. The bezel has two rectangular panels, one displays Madonna and child and the other, St John 'The Baptist' holding a lamb. The panels are designed slightly concave, in order to better reflect the light. On each shoulder is a stylised wound in white enamel with droplets of blood falling below. These twelve droplets originally held red enamel but only traces of that now remain. This ring probably was intended to provide some kind of healing property to the wearer. Jewellery depicting the tears or blood of Christ, and the Five Wounds of Christ, were popular motifs for the expression of piety in Late Medieval Europe. 4.89g. 20.71 mm, 16.4 mm internal. UK ring size K, US size 5.
Provenance: Property of an English collector, acquired by the current owner over 30 years ago.
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