Lot 561 , A rare mid 17th century enamelled gold oval memorial ring for Charles I (1600-1649), finger size K.

A rare mid 17th century enamelled gold oval memorial ring for Charles I (1600-1649), with painted enamel portrait of the King against a lilac ground, the reverse painted with a skull motif against a black ground with the inscription 'Jn.30 1648', the shank and bezel with black enamel decoration (distressed), the interior engraved 'Martye popili' (people's martyr). Provenance: Lot 565, Christies, South Kensington, London, 14th September, 2016, Property from the Collection of David Gainsborough Roberts, ring head size approx. 12mm, finger size K.
Estimate £7,000-9,000

A similar ring with a miniature of Charles I, c.1655 can be seen in the Royal Collection Trust. The enamel has a posthumous portrait of Charles I, loosely based on the central head of the King from Anthony Van Dyck's portrait 'Charles I in Three Positions' of 1635. This type of mourning ring were produced for distribution to followers of the Royalist cause during the years 1649-1660. Many of these enamels were set into rings or lockets bearing the royal cipher with some sort of memorial inscription.


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