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A special auction in London has featured a variety of jewellery steeped in fascinating history and mythology. | Source: National Jeweler/Noonans/
A special auction in London has featured a variety of jewellery steeped in fascinating history and mythology. | Source: National Jeweler/Noonans/

Special jewellery auction steps back in time

A special auction in London has featured a variety of jewellery steeped in fascinating history and mythology.

Noonans Mayfair hosted the Jewellery, Watches, and Objects of Vertu event, beginning on 12 May. Among the more interesting pieces was a 300-year-old ring with ties to the supernatural – or at least, accusations of otherworldly powers.

The piece was one of several rings commissioned after the death of Sir Richard Rainsford, a judge who presided over witch trials held in England. It was discovered in 2020.

Laura Smith, Jewellery expert
Laura Smith, Jewellery expert
"This form of medieval ring, with a principal cabochon stone, usually a sapphire, surrounded by smaller collet-set satellite stones, can be securely dated to the late 12th or early 13th century, and is associated with the bishopric."
Laura Smith, Jewellery expert

The gold band has a skull and crossbones on the exterior, along with Rainsford’s initials and the date of his death as an inscription. The item went unsold.

A bishop’s sapphire ring was sold for £11,000 ($AUD22,600). It features a mix of Roman and Lombardic letters, translated to mean ‘“I love you by faith.”

Another item of interest was a medieval colour gemstone ring discovered by a metal detectorist in 2019, believed to be more than 700 years old. Jewellery expert Laura Smith said it was a remarkable find.

“This form of medieval ring, with a principal cabochon stone, usually a sapphire, surrounded by smaller collet-set satellite stones, can be securely dated to the late 12th or early 13th century, and is associated with the bishopric,” Smith said.

The ring sold for £19,000 ($AUD39,000), comfortably exceeding its presale estimate.

The memorial ring, seen here from different angles, is inscribed with Rainsford’s name, position, and date of death.
The memorial ring, seen here from different angles, is inscribed with Rainsford’s name, position, and date of death.

More reading
Jewellery from space reshapes historical understanding
Lucky find: Medieval gold jewellery heads to auction
Secret gold jewellery collection discovered in Egypt
Viking jewellery paints a vivid image of historic society
Once in a century luxury discovery in Pompeii
Mythological marvel: Ancient jewellery unearthed in Italy
Blast from the past: 4,000-year-old jewellery unearthed

 


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