TimeLine Auctions Limited
Lot 483
16th-18th century AD. A substantial gold glove ring with round section shank inscribed at the rounded shouders with letter 'M' and 'R'; shoulder slopes to rectangular cushion bezel, inscribed to the inside with 'MDXLVII' (1547 AD); to the underside of the bezel four panels with swags of oak leaves; bezel engraved with the Traby coat of arms, being argent three bugle horns in triangle the mouthpieces conjoined in fess point Sable garnished, virolled. 65.61 grams, 27.50mm overall, 21.23mm internal diameter (approximate ring size British X 1/4, USA 11 3/4, Europe 26.29, Japan 24) (1"). From an old Munich collection; acquired on the German art market before 2000. Miko?aj Radziwi??, nicknamed The Red (Polish Rudy, Lithuanian: Radvila Rudasis) also known as Miko?aj Radziwi?? the Sixth (1512-1584 AD) was a Polish-Lithuanian nobleman, Count Palatine of Vilnius, Grand Chancellor of Lithuania, and Grand Lithuanian Hetman (from 1576) in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and later in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Together with his cousin Miko?aj the Black Radziwi?? and the Radziwi?? family were granted title and position as Reichsfürst Prince of the Holy Roman Empire. Miko?aj Radziwi?? spent many years as a military commander. While not the most famous of Commonwealth hetmans, under king Stefan Batory he was fairly successful in defending the eastern borders of the Commonwealth against the Muscovy. His political career was marked by his alliance with his cousin Miko?aj 'The Black' Radziwi??, with whom he opposed the other notable Lithuanian families in the rivalry for the dominant status in the Great Duchy. This alliance marked the formation of a dynastic-like cooperation between Radziwi??s and showed how family interests could affect magnates relations with the Commonwealth. Miko?aj Radziwi?? became an advocate of Lithuanian sovereignty and thus a vocal opponent of political union with Poland, (Union of Lublin, 1569"). Unlike the other magnates he refused to sign the Act, as harmful to the interests of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. He was one of the most prominent converts and advocates of the Protestant faith in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and his line of the family became devoted members and defenders of the Lithuanian Evangelical Reformed Church until its demise. In the Holy Roman Empire, the Tr?by Coat of Arms was situated in the center of a Black Eagle in a golden Shield, the word Traby in Polish means 'horns' and the motif lies in the extent of lands conceded being determined by the distance a horn could be heard in all directions. [A video of this lot is available on the TimeLine Auctions website] Very fine condition. A very large wearable size.
