PREVIEW: JEWELLERY 13 SEPTEMBER

Pilgrims have always sought out souvenirs from sacred shrines to which they travelled throughout the ages, and a fine example of a possible keepsake leads a section of early rings, to be offered in Noonans’ 13 September Jewellery auction.

A late 15th century gold iconographic style ring, it is decorated with a rectangular flat bezel engraved with ‘ihc’ in black letter script within a lozenge panel. IHC is interchangeable with IHS, a Christogram symbolizing Jesus Christ.

The ring is also decorated with diagonally matching floral motifs and leaves, with the shoulders composed of straight lines representing the sun’s rays. Added to this is another inscription to the first two twisted panels on each side of the bezel: ‘en/bo/en/an’ (a good year).

The ring, which is in extremely fine condition, was found at Roxwell near Chelmsford, Essex on 27 October 2019 and recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database.

Roxwell spelt Rokeswelle in Medieval times, was the location of a chapel dating from the 13th century. In 1391/2 Richard II sold the chapel to the Bishop of Winchester when it was used for the endowment of his new college in Oxford.

Iconographic style rings, such as this example, often bear images of saints with inscriptions relating to a new year or a good friend. They appear to have been souvenirs of pilgrimages bought at a shrine.

“The Catholic Christogram of IHC is also to be found on the coat of arms of the Pope, consistent with the pre-Reformation age of the ring,” said Noonans’ Head of Jewellery, Frances Noble.

“We are always delighted to include early historic jewels, alongside later antique and contemporary pieces in our Jewellery auctions. Our 13 September sale has an interesting selection of Medieval and post Medieval rings, including several fine posy rings.”

The auction will also include an Edwardian 3.21 carat diamond set ring, formerly the property of Mrs Flora Abraham Sassoon, the exceptional philanthropist, businesswoman, hostess and Jewish scholar of the late 19th/early 20th century.