14th century AD. A silver signet ring, the hoop engraved with two side crosses, circular bezel engraved with a shield of arms, representing a bird with a crescent and surrounding illegible legend. See Bequest, F., Catalogue of the finger rings Early Christian, Byzantine, Teutonic, Mediaeval and later, London, 1912, no.252, for the typology. 1.54 grams, 23.06mm overall, 20.99mm internal diameter (approximate size British P, USA 7 1/2, Europe 16.23, Japan 15) (1"). Property of a gentleman from Vienna; from his private collection formed since 1970. The use of a seal become more and more essential during the time when the majority of the population was illiterate; the use of the signet ring continued until after the fall of Rome in the West. With the establishment of heraldry, the armorial signet was generally adopted by all those entitled to bear arms. The inscription style seems to recall similar signet rings made in Italy or in the Achaean Greek Latin possessions. [No Reserve] For this specific lot, 5% import VAT is applicable on the hammer price