Beschreibung:

MEDIEVAL GOLD ST CHRISTOPHER ICONOGRAPHIC RING 15th century AD A facetted D-section gold hoop with expanding shoulders, octagonal bezel; zigzag band to top of shoulders and cross potent below; bezel with reserved image of St. Christopher carrying a nimbate Jesus over water, St. Christopher with staff and Jesus with orb surmounted by a small cross. 16 grams, 24mm overall, 21.30mm internal diameter (approximate size British X 1/2, USA 11 3/4, Europe 26.92, Japan 25) (1"). Very fine condition. A large wearable size. Provenance From an important jewellery collection; by descent through the Smigielski family; formerly with the current owner's grandfather Franz Retyk; acquired in Europe by her father or his brother in Belgium during the 1920s. Accompanied by a positive X-Ray Fluorescence metal analysis certificate. Published Accompanied by an Art Loss Register certificate. Literature Cf. Dalton, O.M. The Franks Bequest Catalogue of Finger Rings, London, 1912, item 725 for type; Oman, C.C. British Rings 800-1914, London, 1974, plate 22, items C, D. Footnotes There are a number of stories relating to the origins of St Christopher, but the most popular was that recounted in the medieval Golden Legend that recounted him being a giant named Reprobus. He lived in Lycia, Asia Minor, who desires to serve whoever is the most powerful of kings. His first king appears to be afraid of the devil, so Reprobus reasons that the devil must be stronger and seeks him out. But the devil proves to be terrified by a wayside crucifix, so Reprobus abandons him and seeks the man on the Cross. A hermit teaches him about Christ, baptizes him as Christophoros, "Christ bearer," and says he should serve the Lord by carrying people across an otherwise unaffordable river. One day Christopher takes a small child on his shoulders, who grows heavier and heavier as they cross the stream. The child explains, "thou hast not only borne all the world upon thee, but thou hast borne him that created and made all the world, upon thy shoulders," and reveals himself as the Christ Child. He tells Christopher to plant his staff in the ground and it will bear leaf and fruit the next day. The miraculous staff later enables him to convert thousands of pagans in Lycia. Images of the saint crossing the river with the Christ Child on his shoulders came to be extremely common in western art from the 13th century until modern times. Pilgrims who looked upon an image of St. Christopher were believed to gain a special blessing, so many medieval and later churches put up statues of him on the exterior of the buildings. As the patron saint of travellers the images would also bless those undertaking pilgrimage to the holy places of Europe. Because of this association with travellers and pilgrims his image became popular on jewellery in the form medallions and rings such as this, where he would offer protection.