Ave!

Ring, Medieval, Men's, Magic, Travelers, Mountains & Wings, 10th-14th Cent

Copper alloy; 10.96gm! - Ring size 10 1/2!

Con/ As Fabricated; dark brown patina with bronze highlights; sound and certainly wearable.

Description/ This large and heavy ring was cast as one piece then engraved; two mountains flanked by two wings; further engravings about the band. The two wings suggest that the wearer will fly over the mountains on the wings of an eagle, speeding him safe and sound to his final destination.

Seller's Note/ Ground-found in the north-east Balkans, the mountains certainly suggest the Slovenian Alps. Most likely this ring was worn by a merchant (from Zagreb or Belgrade?) who may have had frequent business connections in Vienna, or a similar city.

Concerning medieval magic rings, accurate timing is difficult. These types of rings are called magic rings because they seem to have meaningful symbols; medieval people were superstitious and believed that things (health, crop, wealth, weather, cattle, security, salvation, protection against spirits, etc) could be effected with talismans, spells, etc., therefore it is believed that these rings were made as protective or influential talismanic items.

Rings were made to be worn, not tucked away. The longer this ring is worn the better it will look!