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A large, heavy gold Irish noble signet ring, set with a carnelian intaglio depicting the coat of arms of the aristocratic Cole family. The stone would have originally been set into a large fob or desk seal, to be used for sealing deeds and important letters in wax, and dates from the early 19th century. It shows a full Cole family coat of arms with a crest depicting a dragon holding an arrow, as well as the family motto “Deus Cole Regem Serva”. This branch of the Cole family are Irish aristocrats, with the eldest born male members of the 18th and 19th centuries carrying the title “Earl of Enniskillen”.
The engraved carnelian stone is set in an open-backed signet mount, the underside decorated with rays that emanate from the centre, a typical design of the late 18th to early 19th centuries.
According to the earliest available records, the Cole family originally hailed from Devon (England) and were made Barons in Ulster (Ireland) by James I in the 13th century. In the 1789, the family title changed from Baron to Earl with William Cole the 1st Earl of Enniskillen. The family lived in Florence Court, a large 18th-century house and estate near Enniskillen, now part of the National Trust.
The seal would have been made one of the first three Earls of Enniskillen - either Earl William Cole (1736-1803), Earl John Cole (1768-1840) or Earl William Cole (1807-1886) - and based upon the date of the seal (early 19th century) it would best match up to be made for John Willoughby Cole, the 2nd Earl of Enniskillen.
The family motto “Deum Cole, Regum Serva” is Latin for "Honour God, Serve the King". Since the family name is also Cole, it is a rare example of a pun within a family motto!
UK size S 1/2, US size 9.25
Carnelian measures 28mm x 22mm. The ring weighs 15 grams in total. The gold is unmarked but tests as 14K gold. There are some losses to the edges of the carnelian stone which have been filled in with a type of resin. The ring is in good, wearable condition.
A large, heavy gold Irish noble signet ring, set with a carnelian intaglio depicting the coat of arms of the aristocratic Cole family. The stone would have originally been set into a large fob or desk seal, to be used for sealing deeds and important letters in wax, and dates from the early 19th century. It shows a full Cole family coat of arms with a crest depicting a dragon holding an arrow, as well as the family motto “Deus Cole Regem Serva”. This branch of the Cole family are Irish aristocrats, with the eldest born male members of the 18th and 19th centuries carrying the title “Earl of Enniskillen”.
The engraved carnelian stone is set in an open-backed signet mount, the underside decorated with rays that emanate from the centre, a typical design of the late 18th to early 19th centuries.
According to the earliest available records, the Cole family originally hailed from Devon (England) and were made Barons in Ulster (Ireland) by James I in the 13th century. In the 1789, the family title changed from Baron to Earl with William Cole the 1st Earl of Enniskillen. The family lived in Florence Court, a large 18th-century house and estate near Enniskillen, now part of the National Trust.
The seal would have been made one of the first three Earls of Enniskillen - either Earl William Cole (1736-1803), Earl John Cole (1768-1840) or Earl William Cole (1807-1886) - and based upon the date of the seal (early 19th century) it would best match up to be made for John Willoughby Cole, the 2nd Earl of Enniskillen.
The family motto “Deum Cole, Regum Serva” is Latin for "Honour God, Serve the King". Since the family name is also Cole, it is a rare example of a pun within a family motto!
UK size S 1/2, US size 9.25
Carnelian measures 28mm x 22mm. The ring weighs 15 grams in total. The gold is unmarked but tests as 14K gold. There are some losses to the edges of the carnelian stone which have been filled in with a type of resin. The ring is in good, wearable condition.
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