A late sixteenth century gold seal ring,

yellow gold, with an oval head on tapering shoulders, finely seal engraved with a
bird of prey on a glove, beneath the Latin word 'Perenne' meaning 'everlasting',
the circumference decorated with beading.

English, circa 1590.

Oval 1.4 cm by 1.2cm

The bird of prey resting on its master's hand, may symbolise fidelity. The bird is obedient
and always returns to its master, no matter how far it may have travelled.

A similar seal ring depicting a bird of prey, found on the bank of the river Thames, is
illustrated in 'Historic Rings; Four Thousand Years of Craftsmanship'
Scarisbrick, D, (Tokyo, 2004), number 201.