Located in the heart of Derbyshire, Hansons Derbyshire Saleroom in Etwall is not only the headquarters of our operations but also the vibrant auction house for a wide range of specialist auctions. This is where we host an exciting array of sales, from collectibles and antiques to Toys, Militaria, Coins, and much much more.
Situated within beautiful landscaped gardens in Staffordshire, Bishton Hall, a grade II listed Georgian mansion, creates the period setting to assess and showcase antiques.
Hansons Richmond builds on the success of monthly London Fine Art & Antiques sales led by a dedicated team since 2018. Situated in a highly regarded area of the capital, it offers a complete range of auction services.
Welcome to Hanson's Newark, where we honour the timeless tradition of the classic auction experience. Formerly known as Northgate Auction Rooms, we continue to uphold the old-school values of live, in-person bidding, bringing the excitement and authenticity of traditional auctions to the heart of Newark.
Nestled in West Cornwall, Hansons Auctioneers in Penzance offers a warm and welcoming environment for buyers, sellers, and collectors alike. As part of the renowned Hansons Auctioneers network, our Penzance saleroom provides a unique and personalised auction experience.
Hansons’ Kent is located close to the market town of Tonbridge in the picturesque village of Penshurst on the Kent/Sussex border. Situated in the beautiful grounds of the Penshurst Estate, we are ideally located to welcome you for valuations and sale days.
Hanson Holloway’s operates from the longest-established saleroom in the historic market town of Banbury. As well as Oxfordshire, it serves the neighbouring counties of Buckinghamshire, Warwickshire and Northamptonshire.
Hanson's Hertfordshire is based in Royston and operates jewellery, fine art & collectables auctions and valuations throughout Hertfordshire and surrounding areas, including Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and North London.
Based in Woburn and Aspley Guise we hold jewellery, silver, fine collectable auctions from the Woburn Hotel. Valuations throughout Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire.
Hansons Norfolk is based in Roughton, North Norfolk. Just 5 miles from the seaside town of Cromer, Hansons Norfolk holds jewellery, silver, fine art and collectables auctions and valuation days as well as free home visits for larger collections.
Hansons Auctioneers is pleased to work with Rare Book Auctions in Lichfield, managed by Jim Spencer. Rare Book Auctions hold dedicated monthly sales of antiquarian books, modern firsts, manuscripts, autograph letters, photographs, ephemera, prints & caricatures, and maps & globes.
From Field to Fine Art: Rare Tudor Love Ring with Poetic Twist Unearthed
| By Kendal Cooper
A remarkable post-medieval gold ring, believed to date back to the reign of Henry VIII, has been unearthed in a Bedfordshire field – and will soon be offered for sale by Hansons Auctioneers in their Historica and Coin Department.
The gold posy ring, discovered in May 2023, is expected to achieve between £4,000 and £6,000 when it goes under the hammer in Hansons’ Summer Fine Art Jewellery, Silver, Watch and Coin Auction this June
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, commented: “This is a rare and exciting find – a post-medieval gold posy ring which we believe dates to around the mid-16th century. These rings were often exchanged as tokens of love or betrothal, and this one is especially intriguing due to its unusual inscription.”
Engraved inside the band in clear Roman capitals is the motto: “Thou now ill / not always” – a cryptic phrase Mr Hanson suggests could be interpreted as “thou now sick, not always thus”, a sentiment perhaps intended to comfort a loved one during hardship or illness. “It may reference a change of heart,” he added, “or a vow of enduring love through difficult times. These mottoes often reflected deeply personal, emotional messages between lovers.”
The ring features a triple-banded design decorated with scrolling foliage and petal-like motifs – a highly unusual style. Its exceptionally crisp engraving and the style of lettering, which pre-dates the adoption of italic script in the late 16th century, help to date the piece to between 1530 and 1560. “To think this ring was crafted nearly a century before Oliver Cromwell is remarkable,” said Mr Hanson. “It was likely lost in the mid-16th century and remained preserved beneath the earth for nearly 500 years. Its survival in such immaculate condition – untouched by plough or damage – makes it all the more extraordinary.”
Posy rings, deriving from the word poésie (French for poetry), were popular from the 15th to the 17th centuries, with inscriptions often drawn from poetry, scripture, or romantic verse. They are now highly collectable and cherished for their personal stories and historical context.
This exceptional example will be part of Hansons’ Summer Fine Art Auction.
If you own a historic ring, coin, or jewellery item and are considering selling, Hansons Auctioneers offer free valuations and home visits. You are also welcome to visit our saleroom to consign items for inclusion in our specialist sales.
For further information or to book an appointment, please contact: Charles Hanson | [email protected]
