227 - Byzantine Gold Ring with Married Couple. Circa 6th-7th century A.D. Discoid bezel incuse image of two facing busts with beaded headdresses, legend '????' (belonging to god) below, later round-section hoop. Cf. similar subject in a ring from Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, accession no.63.1555; Chadour, A.B., Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, item 489, for type. 3.24 grams, 21.00 mm overall, 14.95 x 17.74 mm internal diameter (approximate size British L 1/2, USA 6, Europe 11.87, Japan 11) (7/8 in.). [A video of this lot is available to view on TimeLine Auctions Website]

Byzantine Gold Ring with Married Couple. Circa 6th-7th century A.D. Discoid bezel incuse image of two facing busts with beaded headdresses, legend '????' (belonging to god) below, later round-section hoop. Cf. similar subject in a ring from Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, accession no.63.1555; Chadour, A.B., Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, item 489, for type. 3.24 grams, 21.00 mm overall, 14.95 x 17.74 mm internal diameter (approximate size British L 1/2, USA 6, Europe 11.87, Japan 11) (7/8 in.). [A video of this lot is available to view on TimeLine Auctions Website] Private collection, 1980s. Acquired on the UK art market. Private collection, London, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.13489-262461. Some types of marriage rings exhibit schematic images of the couple in either formal bust form or full length. The bride and groom flank usually a cross and/or a figure of Christ, identifiable by his cruciform nimbus. Christ blesses the couple by joining their hands or by resting his own hands on their shoulders. Here the image of Christ is substituted by the inscription of God , with the meaning that the marriage is holy and belongs to God. TimeLine Auctions follows a rigorous vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists. See our website for more information.