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Details
A late 19th century gold and foiled emerald "Martin Luther" marriage ring,
the hoop modelled as a depiction of the Crucifixion, set with a single foiled emerald above the head of Christ, the cross decorated with instruments of the Passion and Crucifixion, the hoop interior engraved "Doc: Martin Luther 13 June 1525"
See plate 3
the hoop modelled as a depiction of the Crucifixion, set with a single foiled emerald above the head of Christ, the cross decorated with instruments of the Passion and Crucifixion, the hoop interior engraved "Doc: Martin Luther 13 June 1525"
See plate 3
Provenance
Probably purchased from the Bois Collections, Sotheby & Co, April 1947, lot 40.
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis
Further details
This ring is one of many copies of the so-called marriage ring of Catherine Bora and Martin Luther. The original ring is believed to have been designed by the painter Lucas Cranach the Elder. After the 300th anniversary of Reformation day in 1817 copies of the ring of Luther were produced in large numbers and became fashionable among protestants as marriage rings.