Celtic Silver Ring with Horse and Sun Symbol
Starting bid
€ 1
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Expert
Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 450 - € 550
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Description from the seller
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Very rare ancient silver alloy ring showing a Celticized horse to left with a sun symbol above. Plain ring band.
The ring will be delivered in a jewellery box, a perfect gift for any occasion.
Outside diameter: ± 26 mm
Bezel: ± 15,5 x 13,7 mm
Condition: good and solid condition, wearable, appealing patina. Signs of wear consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
-> In Iron Age culture, the horse was a highly revered animal. It was a symbol of sovereignty, divine power and cosmic cycles.
While Celtic artists originally copied Macedonian and Greek coins (specifically those of Philip II featuring horses and chariots), they quickly deconstructed these realistic images into highly abstract, distinctively Celtic symbols.
Instead of representing literal animals or rulers, horses on Celtic coins and metalwork served as fluid metaphors for their religious and societal worldview, cosmic calendars, and sacred tribal identity.
Catawiki disclaimer:
This object has been carefully examined for its material and surface characteristics.
Laboratory analysis (e.g. XRF) is not routinely undertaken in private collecting, and destructive testing is avoided as it causes permanent damage to archaeological material.
Before modern hallmarking, gold and silver alloys varied depending on local resources, recycling practices and economic conditions.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Very rare ancient silver alloy ring showing a Celticized horse to left with a sun symbol above. Plain ring band.
The ring will be delivered in a jewellery box, a perfect gift for any occasion.
Outside diameter: ± 26 mm
Bezel: ± 15,5 x 13,7 mm
Condition: good and solid condition, wearable, appealing patina. Signs of wear consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
-> In Iron Age culture, the horse was a highly revered animal. It was a symbol of sovereignty, divine power and cosmic cycles.
While Celtic artists originally copied Macedonian and Greek coins (specifically those of Philip II featuring horses and chariots), they quickly deconstructed these realistic images into highly abstract, distinctively Celtic symbols.
Instead of representing literal animals or rulers, horses on Celtic coins and metalwork served as fluid metaphors for their religious and societal worldview, cosmic calendars, and sacred tribal identity.
Catawiki disclaimer:
This object has been carefully examined for its material and surface characteristics.
Laboratory analysis (e.g. XRF) is not routinely undertaken in private collecting, and destructive testing is avoided as it causes permanent damage to archaeological material.
Before modern hallmarking, gold and silver alloys varied depending on local resources, recycling practices and economic conditions.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Details
Culture
Celtic
Century/timeframe
200 BC - 100 AD
Name of object
Ring with Horse and Sun Symbol
Acquired from
Antique market
Year acquired
2025
Material
Silver
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Antique market
Previous owner - year acquired
2025
Previous owner - country acquired from
Netherlands
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
