Rare and wearable late 16th century gold salamander ring. C.1600

Capable, in mythology, of withstanding fire, the salamander became a symbol of immortality, rebirth and passion.

In real life they hibernate in dark and damp places such as in log piles and rotting wood - when wood was brought indoors and put on the fire, the creatures would "mysteriously" appear from the flames. The 16th-century Italian artist Benvenuto Cellini (1500–1571) famously recalled in his autobiography witnessing just such an appearance as a child

11mm wide, 3g
Finger size approximately US - 7, UK - O

SOLD