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A charming antique early 20th century bloodstone intaglio signet ring, circa 1920.
The oval bloodstone has been intricately carved to depict a dove holding an olive branch. It is a family coat of arms, and beneath it the family motto can be seen, engraved in the banner in Latin. It reads ‘Dum Spiro Spero’ which translates to ‘While I breathe, I hope’. The motto is adopted by various families and organisations, and the motto is even adopted by places all over the world, like St. Andrews in Scotland and the US State of South Carolina. In fact, the earliest recorded use of the phrase can be found in the work of Greek poet Theocritus (3rd Century BC), who wrote ‘while there's life there's hope, and only the dead have none’.
The intaglio also engraved with a family crest, which shows a dove holding an olive branch in its beak which is a universal symbol of peace and love. The combination of this particular crest and motto can only be attributed to one family, the Livingstone-Learmonth family.
The family name originated with Thomas Livingstone-Learmonth of Parkhill (1818 – 1903) (born Thomas Learmonth). He was an early settler of Australia, of Scottish descent, who established himself as a squatter on land around Ballarat, then in the colony of New South Wales, in the 1830s.
This carved bloodstone intaglio is engraved in negative, as it would have been used to make wax seals for important deeds and letters regarding family affairs. The stone is set in a rectangular signet mount crafted in 18K gold. The bloodstone heliotrope gemstone displays bright red splatters across the dark green background with high contrast. Bloodstone is the March birthstone, historically known as the ‘stone of courage’, worn by warriors in battle for protection and to stop bleeding wounds.
UK size K, US size 5.25
The ring weighs 4.28 grams, and the bloodstone measures 14mm x 10mm. The ring remains in very good overall condition despite its significant age.
A charming antique early 20th century bloodstone intaglio signet ring, circa 1920.
The oval bloodstone has been intricately carved to depict a dove holding an olive branch. It is a family coat of arms, and beneath it the family motto can be seen, engraved in the banner in Latin. It reads ‘Dum Spiro Spero’ which translates to ‘While I breathe, I hope’. The motto is adopted by various families and organisations, and the motto is even adopted by places all over the world, like St. Andrews in Scotland and the US State of South Carolina. In fact, the earliest recorded use of the phrase can be found in the work of Greek poet Theocritus (3rd Century BC), who wrote ‘while there's life there's hope, and only the dead have none’.
The intaglio also engraved with a family crest, which shows a dove holding an olive branch in its beak which is a universal symbol of peace and love. The combination of this particular crest and motto can only be attributed to one family, the Livingstone-Learmonth family.
The family name originated with Thomas Livingstone-Learmonth of Parkhill (1818 – 1903) (born Thomas Learmonth). He was an early settler of Australia, of Scottish descent, who established himself as a squatter on land around Ballarat, then in the colony of New South Wales, in the 1830s.
This carved bloodstone intaglio is engraved in negative, as it would have been used to make wax seals for important deeds and letters regarding family affairs. The stone is set in a rectangular signet mount crafted in 18K gold. The bloodstone heliotrope gemstone displays bright red splatters across the dark green background with high contrast. Bloodstone is the March birthstone, historically known as the ‘stone of courage’, worn by warriors in battle for protection and to stop bleeding wounds.
UK size K, US size 5.25
The ring weighs 4.28 grams, and the bloodstone measures 14mm x 10mm. The ring remains in very good overall condition despite its significant age.
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