Bidspirit auction | Gold and opalescent agate courtly

Gold and opalescent agate courtly ring. France or Italy. Gothic. 14th century. -   Large, oval, mounted stone depicting a courting couple. The gentleman offers his hand to the lady, who holds the rose he has given her. The ring is worked in braided gold, symbolising the union of the couple.   There are examples of other rings of a courtly character in the collections at the Victoria and Albert Museum and at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.