A rare early 19th century Acts of Union ring circa 1801, the navette-shaped ring decorated with a Union Flag in red white and blue guilloche enamel within seed pearl border in closed back yellow gold setting, size N The Acts of Union were passed on 2 July 1800 and 1 August 1800 and came into force on 1 January 1801. They joined Ireland to the United Kingdom creating a united parliament. Eight articles which had been previously agreed by the British and Irish parliaments were ratified and a new flag for the United Kingdom emerged from this new Union, known as the Union Jack. It is likely that this ring is one of the earliest depictions of the Union Flag in jewellery.

Composed of several subsidiaries, the Drouot Group is a major player in the art market. Hôtel Drouot, located in the heart of Paris, has been the world's largest public auction center since 1852. 15 salerooms are available to more than 70 auction houses. The emulation generated by an annual offer of 230,000 artworks from 21 major specialities - from Antiquity to street art - attracts some 3,000 visitors every day. The Group's digital platform, Drouot.com, offers digital sales - Live auctions (live broadcasting and participation in auctions), Online-only auctions (dematerialised auctions) and Buy Now sales (sales of lots at fixed prices). Nearly 2 million items are offered annually by 600 auction houses. Auction news is reported every week in La Gazette Drouot, the leading weekly magazine for the art market and culture published by Auctionspress.