World
Unearthed royalty: 400-year-old falconry ring, believed to be of King Charles I, heads to auction
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NEW DELHI: A falconry ring with a royal history, believed to have once adorned the finger of King Charles I, is poised to fetch a substantial sum as it goes under the hammer. Discovered by metal detectorist Roy Davis in the 1980s on a spoil heap by the Thames, the 400-year-old ring spent nearly four decades untouched in an attic.
Only recently did the owner, Roy Davis, come to realize the regal origins of the tiny hawking ring, according to a report by the Sun. Initially deeming it worthless, Davis revisited the historic find last year while going through old discoveries at home. After a meticulous cleaning process, he uncovered an inscription on the ring that read ‘Charles King,’ signaling its connection to the bygone era of King Charles I.
Measuring a mere 10mm in diameter, the ring, which was used to tether a hawk, is set to be auctioned at Noonan’s sale next week. Former company manager Roy Davis, now 82, recounted the day he stumbled upon the ring with his Compass 77B metal detector along the Thames. However, it wasn’t until last year that he grasped the significance of his discovery.
Nigel Mills, Artefact and Coin expert at Noonans, talking to the Sun, shed light on the historical context of falconry during Charles I’s reign. He explained that as firearms gained prevalence, falconry declined, making this ring a potentially rare artefact linked to royalty. Mills noted the importance of such tiny rings, citing Charles I’s as possibly the last due to the waning popularity of falconry.
Charles I, famously executed in 1649, was a keen follower of falconry, a sport embraced by the royalty and nobility in the 16th and 17th centuries. Mills highlighted the significance of the find, emphasizing that Charles I’s ring is a rare discovery with only one other known example in the British Museum, alongside similar items belonging to historical figures like Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, and James I.
The ring is expected to fetch between £2,000 and £3,000 at Noonans Mayfair auction on March 12, where it will be part of a collection featuring jewellery, watches, silver and objects of Vertu. Davis, the fortunate discoverer, plans to share the proceeds from the sale among his children.
Only recently did the owner, Roy Davis, come to realize the regal origins of the tiny hawking ring, according to a report by the Sun. Initially deeming it worthless, Davis revisited the historic find last year while going through old discoveries at home. After a meticulous cleaning process, he uncovered an inscription on the ring that read ‘Charles King,’ signaling its connection to the bygone era of King Charles I.
Measuring a mere 10mm in diameter, the ring, which was used to tether a hawk, is set to be auctioned at Noonan’s sale next week. Former company manager Roy Davis, now 82, recounted the day he stumbled upon the ring with his Compass 77B metal detector along the Thames. However, it wasn’t until last year that he grasped the significance of his discovery.
Nigel Mills, Artefact and Coin expert at Noonans, talking to the Sun, shed light on the historical context of falconry during Charles I’s reign. He explained that as firearms gained prevalence, falconry declined, making this ring a potentially rare artefact linked to royalty. Mills noted the importance of such tiny rings, citing Charles I’s as possibly the last due to the waning popularity of falconry.
Charles I, famously executed in 1649, was a keen follower of falconry, a sport embraced by the royalty and nobility in the 16th and 17th centuries. Mills highlighted the significance of the find, emphasizing that Charles I’s ring is a rare discovery with only one other known example in the British Museum, alongside similar items belonging to historical figures like Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, and James I.
The ring is expected to fetch between £2,000 and £3,000 at Noonans Mayfair auction on March 12, where it will be part of a collection featuring jewellery, watches, silver and objects of Vertu. Davis, the fortunate discoverer, plans to share the proceeds from the sale among his children.
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