Bidspirit auction | Templar silver ring with cross

Templar silver ring with cross pattée, possibly Sicily or southern Italy, 12th-13th centuries. - Cast and chased silver. Weight: 10.6 g. An interesting medieval ring made of silver and decorated on the bezel with a cross pattée inscribed on a war shield, one of the symbols most closely associated with the Crusades and the Christian military orders of the High Middle Ages. The piece has a solid, functional structure and a marked formal simplicity, characteristic features of medieval metalwork intended for both personal identification and the public display of faith. The cross pattée, widely used between the 12th and 13th centuries, was employed by various military and religious orders, although its association with Templar iconography has made this motif one of the most recognizable emblems of the Crusader imagery. A magnified view of the surface reveals vitrification of the silver and an antique patina consistent with the metal's long history, elements considered indicative of its remarkable age and authenticity. This piece comes from the Templar collection of the Associazione Culturale Terza Esperide in Palermo, an institution specializing in the conservation and study of materials related to medieval history and the orders of chivalry. Typologically, the ring has parallels in productions from the western Mediterranean, especially Sicily and southern Italy, territories closely linked to pilgrimage routes, the Crusades, and the presence of various military orders during the 12th and 13th centuries. Its excellent state of preservation, combined with the symbolic power of the cross inscribed on the shield, makes this piece an outstanding testament to the chivalric and religious culture of medieval Europe. Lot in international warehouse (within the EU). Intra-EU shipping: no import duties apply within the EU. An export permit from the country of origin may be required.