| 中文版 English

具体要求

其它要求

-
关闭
Medieval Gold My Joy Posy Ring
英国 北京时间
2021年11月30日 开拍 / 2021年11月28日 截止委托
拍品描述
14th-15th century AD. A gold flat-section annular band, engraved around the exterior with stylised flower-and-sprig ornament alternating with French blackletter inscription: ma ioie, meaning my joy. Cf. The V&A Museum, accession number 7125-1860, for a similar ring type. 1.41 grams, 16.79mm overall, 15.69mm internal diameter (approximate size British I 1/2, USA 4 1/2, Europe 8.07, Japan 7) (3/4"). From the Albert Ward collection, Essex, UK acquired on the UK antiques market between 1974-1985. The ring is almost certainly of English manufacture and inscribed in the variety of Anglo-French normal for such amatory inscriptions in the late Middle Ages. A 15th century silver thimble bearing the same inscription was sold at Christies on 31 May 1995, lot 206, while a contemporary ring-brooch in the British Museum reads vous estes ma ioy moundeine [you are my earthly joy]. ?Posy? is derived from ?poesy? or ?poetry?, with posy rings being named thus in the mid 19th century. Prior to this date, there was no specific term for these rings. In the medieval period many rings bore posy inscriptions in Latin or French, the languages frequently spoken by the affluent elites. Later, inscriptions in English became more usual, although the lack of standardisation in spelling might surprise the modern reader. The inscription is generally found on the interior of the ring, hidden to everyone except the wearer and most of the sentimental mottoes were taken from the popular literature of the time. In fact, love inscriptions often repeat each other, which suggests that goldsmiths used stock phrases. In the later 16th century, ?posy? specifically meant a short inscription. A posy is described in contemporary literature as a short ?epigram? of less than one verse. George Puttenham (1589) explained that these phrases were not only inscribed on finger rings, but also applied to arms and trenchers. The practice of giving rings engraved with mottoes at betrothals or weddings was common in England from the 16th century onwards, and continued until the late 18th century. Sources suggest that rings could be acquired ready- engraved, or alternatively engraved sometime after their initial production, by a hand other than the goldsmith?s. Joan Evans assumed that posy rings were principally used by/between lovers and distinguished four contexts for the giving of posy rings by one lover to another: betrothals, weddings, St Valentine?s Day and occasions of mourning. Samuel Pepys? diary makes clear that posy rings might also mark the marriage of a family member, when bearers could even commission their own rings and chose their own mottoes from books. The rings could also function as tokens of friendship or loyalty. [A video of this lot is available to view on Timeline Auctions Website] [No Reserve]
condition:Very fine condition.

本场其它拍品

  • 竞价阶梯
  • 快递物流
  • 拍卖规则
  • 支付方式
竞价区间 加价幅度
0
5
100
10
200
20
500
50
1,000
100
2,000
200
5,000
500
10,000
1,000
20,000
2,000
50,000
5,000
100,000
10,000
250,000
20,000
+

价格信息

拍品估价:1,500 - 2,000 英镑 起拍价格:15 英镑  买家佣金: 27.00% + VAT 服务费:平台服务费为成交总金额(含佣金)的3%,最低200元

拍卖公司

TimeLine Auctions Limited
地址: 23-24 Berkeley Square
电话: +44 (0)20 7129 1494
邮编: W1J 6HE
向卖家提问