Kunst & Kunsthandwerk, Antiken

| 205 Provenienz: Aus süddeutschem Privatbesitz. Aus dem Nachlass des Vaters übernommen. Von diesem in den 70er Jahren im Kunsthandel erworben. A medieval crystal reading stone with serrated, chased silver bezel, 13-15th century A rock crystal shaped like a heraldic shield, with flat back and domed top. The back is surrounded by a roped silver bezel which is serrated on the sides. An ancient chipping of the reading stone at the right edge of the lower, round half was almost completely covered by the bezel which features a significantly larger “leaf” in that place. The reading stone might be therefore considerably older than the silver bezel. On the upper end a small eyelet with larger ring for a necklace or band. The lower edge with another, smaller eyelet slightly bent to the left. At the left cor­ ner of the bezel at side and top chippings, otherwise intact. Length with bezel from eyelet to eyelet (without ring) 5.3 cm. Length of reading stone 4.7 cm. The manufacture of reading stones began in monasteries in the 13th century after the Silesian monk Witelo had explained the principle of reading stones in his work Peri Optikes (“On Optics”). The first eye glasses were made in the late 13th century. Very interesting object from the earliest developmental phase of optical reading aids in the European Middle Ages. P rovenance : From South German private ownership. Taken over from the estate of the father. Purchased by the latter from an art dealer in the 1970s. 253791 II - € 3.800 1867 Ring eines Adligen, Silber, vergoldet, Renaissance, 16. Jhdt. Feuervergoldeter Silberring mit gefasstem roten Gemmenstein. Die Seiten der Schiene mit Voluten und Blattranken geschmückt, während die Fassung des Steins nur mit einfachem Kerbschnitt dekoriert ist. In den länglich achteckigen Stein ist einWappen eingeschnitten, das einen sich umblickenden Vogel zeigt. Darüber ein Ritterhelm, beiderseits mit reicher Zier. Darüber erneut zwei Vögel. Durchmesser 2,1 cm (dt. Ringgröße 65). Gewicht 7,5 g. Provenienz: Aus einer in Süddeutschland aufbewahrten Privatsamm- lung. Erworben in den 1970er bis 1980er Jahren im Kunsthandel und aus deutschen Privatsammlungen. A Renaissance ring of a nobleman, 16th century Fire-gilded silver ring with a red gemstone. Diameter 2.1 cm. Weight 7.5 g. P rovenance : From a private collection in south Germany. Acquired from art dealers and German private collectors in the 1970s and 1980s. 254099 II € 1.200 1867