Medieval Silver Exceptional Rare Daktylios Ring – A Collector’s Piece with an Inscribed Square Bezel and Preserved (No reserve price)

Small treasures bearing the traces of history

Exceptional Medieval Ring – Daktylios – A Collector’s Piece with an Inscribed Square Bezel and Preserved Engraved Details – Museum Quality

Description


Made from a metal alloy, probably silver, the bezel features rows of incised characters within a double-lined lozenge. Curvilinear corner motifs and engraved shoulders complete the composition. The arrangement of letter-like signs invites epigraphic investigation into a personalised inscription or abbreviated expression.

The Metropolitan Museum’s Ring of Leontios documents the association of Byzantine inscribed rings with high-ranking titles such as patrikios and komes. It provides cultural context for the aristocratic traditions evoked by this piece’s imposing design. Its broad bezel and elaborate decoration offer a compelling perspective on personal display. Here, Museum Quality describes the preserved design and the visibility of its detailed craftsmanship. For the collector, its appeal lies in the combination of inscription, geometric composition and surface character within a single object.

Object Type: Inscribed and Decorated Ring / Daktylios
Period: Medieval
Date Range: ca.14th–16th Century AD
Material: Metal Alloy, Silver
Technique: Casting, Engraving and Surface Shaping
Form: Broad Square Bezel with Rows of Incised Characters within a Lozenge Frame and Decorated Shoulders
Symbolism: Letter-like Engravings Considered in the Context of Personal Identity and Representation
Condition: Very Well-preserved Overall Form; Distinct Bezel and Shoulder Decoration, with Surface Wear and Patina

Height: 22.48 mm ±
Outer Width: 22.47 mm ±
Inner Width: 18.50 mm ±
Weight: 7.72 g ±

European Ring Size: Approximately EU 58
US Ring Size: Approximately US 8½
UK Ring Size: Approximately UK Q½–R

Ring sizes are estimated from the inner width; the oval shape of the hoop makes these conversions approximate.

Note

★ Please consult the measurements to appreciate the piece’s actual size. Photographic framing can make objects of different dimensions appear similar in size.

Buyers wishing to receive a printed Cultural and Iconographic Assessment Certificate may submit their request before shipment. Every shipment is dispatched with full insurance coverage. Differences in shipping charges for certain countries reflect the country-specific costs of this insured service. Warm, museum-inspired lighting was chosen to bring out the object’s surface texture, form, craftsmanship and historic character naturally. Suspension cords and other display accessories visible in the photographs complement the presentation and are not included in the sale.

Information

Surface details have been documented using high-resolution equipment. The object’s form and structural integrity have been preserved, with photographic adjustments limited to minor colour balancing.

Museum-standard technical photographs may be supplied to interested collectors during the auction. If requested before shipment, an expert assessment report and a signed ownership document prepared in the buyer’s name can be provided in PDF format within 3–5 business days.

When identifying an archaeological object, experienced museum specialists and archaeologists consider its known find context, material, form and symbols alongside museum examples and academic research; appropriate advanced laboratory examinations can provide additional scientific insight into specific questions concerning material, manufacture and dating.

The stated period, original function, symbolic meaning and material reflect academic assessments supported by typological comparisons and expert opinions. Advanced scientific analyses are separate examinations conducted beyond the scope of the sale.

Scholarly consistency, transparent communication and good faith guide every presentation; no object is knowingly offered as a copy or imitation.