Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu to include the personal archive of Louis Osman, goldsmith and architect

An inscribed medieval ring, circa 14th century, the narrow flat band inscribed to the interior ‘+CESPAR:MELCHIOR:BATIZAR’ and to the exterior ‘+AVE.MARIA.GRACIAPLE’, in Lombardic capitals, ring size S½. £1500-2000

This piece was discovered in Bedfordshire in April 2016. It has been disclaimed as treasure, ref: 2016-T342, and is recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme, ref: CAM-FC8852.

The inscription to the exterior refers to the first lines of the Christian prayer ‘Hail Mary’. The interior inscription refers to the names of the three Magi (three wise men or three kings) of the biblical nativity story. The magi are not actually named in the Bible, but the names were adopted from the Eastern Mithraic tradition during the rise of their cult following the transfer of their remains from Constantinople to Cologne cathedral in 1164. Both of these phrases were commonly inscribed on jewels and other items during the medieval period as prophylactic charms/prayers. Documents record that medieval physicians even proscribed using names of the three Magi as a cure for epilepsy, amongst other things.

See: Oman, C., British Rings, 800-1914, Rowman and Littlefield, USA, 1974.
See: Evans, J., Magical Jewels of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, particularly in England, Dover Publications, USA, 1976.