{"product_id":"byzantine-silver-ring-theofanis-8th-12th-century-ce-ancient-jewelry-square-bezel-hourglass-cross-motif-authentic-medieval-signet","title":"Byzantine Silver Ring 'Theofanis' (8th-12th c. CE) EU 57\/US 8","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis authentic Byzantine silver ring, named 'Theofanis,' dates to the 8th–12th century CE and carries the quiet dignity of provincial Byzantine metalwork. Its separately soldered square bezel bears an incised hourglass motif — a stylized cross or owner's mark — framed within a crisp rectangular border.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDetails:\u003cbr\u003eEra: Byzantine to Medieval, 8th–12th Century CE\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: Silver (billon — silver-copper alloy)\u003cbr\u003eRing Size: EU 57 \/ US 8\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Preserved in original excavated state, with multi-tonal sulfide tarnish, verdigris at the solder junction, and fine use-wear on the bezel face\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: From a private Belgian collection, acquired between the 1960s and 1990s\u003cbr\u003eUnique Identifier: R-17-S\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRestoration and Authenticity:\u003cbr\u003eThis piece is preserved in its untouched state, showing natural aging and patina from centuries of burial and wear. For those who prefer a refreshed look, a professional restoration service is available, reviving original detail while respecting historical integrity.\u003cbr\u003eIf you’d like to book a restoration, simply add the restoration option along with your order or book it as the additional product in my shop.\u003cbr\u003eA Certificate of Authenticity is included.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHistorical Context:\u003cbr\u003eByzantine finger rings with separately worked flat bezels — square, round, or cruciform — soldered onto a flat-band hoop are a hallmark of provincial workshops from the 7th through 12th centuries, active across the Balkans, Thrace, and Anatolia. The hourglass or bowtie motif on 'Theofanis' belongs to a family of geometric designs that may represent a stylized cross, a devotional mark, or a personal tamga-like sign used to identify an owner or sign a document in wax. Such original Byzantine rings were everyday companions, worn by merchants, clerics, and soldiers alike, pressed into correspondence and kept close as quiet tokens of identity.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhy This Piece?\u003cbr\u003e'Theofanis' is a wearable medieval jewel with a documented European collection history and the unmistakable hand of a provincial Byzantine smith. Its austere geometry and honest patina make it a compelling antique ring with engraved iconography — equally at home in a scholarly collection or on the hand of someone drawn to the long quiet reach of Byzantium.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExplore more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/byzantine-rings\"\u003eByzantine rings\u003c\/a\u003e from our collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aurora Antiqua","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":61653147156810,"sku":"R-17-S","price":420.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0897\/7140\/9738\/files\/IMG_0590.jpg?v=1776625512","url":"https:\/\/auroraantiqua.store\/products\/byzantine-silver-ring-theofanis-8th-12th-century-ce-ancient-jewelry-square-bezel-hourglass-cross-motif-authentic-medieval-signet","provider":"Aurora Antiqua","version":"1.0","type":"link"}