14th century AD. A silver signet ring with the circular bezel engraved with two side crosses, marked at the centre by the cross of St. Andrew within a round border, circular loop engraved with vertical and horizontal lines. See Bequest, F., Catalogue of the finger rings Early Christian, Byzantine, Teutonic, Mediaeval and later, London, 1912, no.252, for the typology. 2.36 grams, 22.74mm overall, 20.30mm internal diameter (approximate size British R 1/2, A 8 3/4, Europe 19.38, Japan 18) (1"). English collection, 1980s. Acquired on the UK art market. Property of an Essex gentleman. The e of seals became more and more essential during the time when the majority of the population was illiterate; the e of signet rings 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. A considerable proportion of medieval rings were signets, with portraits, names or monograms, and emblems such as the cross, most of these having the designs cut in a metal bezel. [No Reserve]