15th century AD. A substantial finger ring with D-section hoop shoulders decorated with diagonal scrolling bands, the concave portions ornamented with five-petalled pansies and foliage, expanding shoulders; the circular bezel bearing the cut signet seal design of a hart (stag) couchant with large antlers, collared and chained with a three-petalled lily with leaves in the field each side, with black letter 'ht' monogram below being a punning abbreviation of the name Hart. See Victoria & Albert Museum, number M 202 for a 15th century ring showing a hart couchant signet for Edmund Hart; see British Museum, the 'Raglan Ring', dated to 1440-1475 AD; see Dalton, O. M. Franks Bequest Catalogue of the Finger Rings, British Museum, 1912, number 289, for a generally similar ring of the 15th century; see British Museum, accession number 1967-1208.4 for a further example of a similar ring dated to 1400-1464 AD. 16 grams, 26mm overall, 21.39mm internal diameter (approximate size British Y, USA 12, Europe 27.51, Japan 26) (1"). Property of a gentleman; acquired from an old jewellery collection in the 1980s, thence by descent. The surname Hart (or le Hart, Harte, Hartman, etc.) is of Medieval origin and derives from the frequent use in this period of nicknames that give a punning allusion. The nickname 'hart' comes from the pre-7th century 'heorot' and would suggest that the bearer is fleet of foot. Such gold rings were most likely not worn directly on the flesh of a finger but rather would have habitually been worn over a leather glove by a member of the nobility and probably reserved for wear on important social or ceremonial occasions. TimeLine Auctions Ltd arranges printed catalogue rostrum Auctions, eAuctions and Timed Auctions where we offer antiquities, ancient artefacts / artifacts, antiques, collectibles, coins, medals and books for public sale.

Extremely fine condition. Extremely rare.