Connie Pilkington
Associate Specialist
Lot 166
15TH CENTURY GOLD ICONOGRAPHIC RING
26 November 2025, 11:00 GMT
London, Knightsbridge£3,000 - £4,000
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15TH CENTURY GOLD ICONOGRAPHIC RING
The rectangular plaque engraved to depict the figure of St Christopher holding a staff in his right, hand wading through water and carrying the Christ child on his shoulders, the hoop with foliate decoration in the form of palm leaves, ring size approx. I
Footnotes
Provenance:
The ring was found whist metal detecting in Bishton Community, Newport, Wales, in 2021. Under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996 and due to that age and metal content of a minimum of 10% precious metal, the ring qualifies as Treasure and has been disclaimed by the Crown.
'Iconographic' rings inscribed with religious images and invocations were popular during the late 14th and 15th centuries, often worn by the wearer to protect from certain evils and possible disaster. The rings were first recorded in 1378 by a London Goldsmith who sold "'against Christmas twelve rings of Christopher's' the patron saint of travellers, and for the next one hundred and fifty years they were in great demand. Some people used them as wedding rings and since so many were inscribed with good wishes for the New Year they were also given as presents on 1st January" See Scarisbrick, D. and Butler, S. Marvels in Miniature, published by S J Phillips Ltd, 2024, pp.67-83.
For a similar ring depicting St Christopher see Bonhams, Knightsbridge Jewels, London, 14th October 2020, lot 165.