Rare Vintage Ionian Islands Ring

This stunning ring, hailing from the midcentury, has clearly been modelled after an antique favourite, and obviously well-loved. We could hardly say it better than The British Museum:

“The seven islands and their symbols as listed by the ILN are: Ithaca with a head of Ulysses, Santa Maura (present-day Lefkada) with a harp, as the death-place of Sappho, Cephalonia with Cephalus, a dart and KΕΦ, in the centre Corfu with arms and emblems, Zante (Zakynthos) with a tripod, Cerigo (Kythira) with Venus emerging from a shell (the island was her supposed birthplace), and Paxos with a trident, as sacred to Neptune.
The Ionian Islands had been under British protection since the Treaty of Paris in 1815, but from around 1830, after Greek independence, they began to press for union with Greece. Insurgencies in 1849–50 had been suppressed with a heavy-handedness that led to lengthy discussions in Parliament as to whether an enquiry into the handling of the affair should take place (see 'The Times', 10 August 1850, p. 4). This may explain the decision of the then Commissioner, Sir Henry Ward, who had dealt with the rebellion, not to participate in 1851. There was subsequently much dispute about the future of the islands until they were ceded to Greece in 1862 on the recommendation of Gladstone. The 1851 display of what could be got together at short notice thus came at a time of fiercely divided opinions and bitter feelings.” - The British Museum

Dated approximately one hundred years from the rebellion and subsequent ceding of the islands, we can't help but imagine that this ring held more import than a simple travel souvenir.

Good vintage condition with wear in line with age and use.

Details:
• 14k yellow gold, stamped and tested
• Size 7 and cannot be resized
• Individual panels are approximately 7x7mm, ring measures 7mm wide and 0.6mm thick
• 2.9g
• The seven oval panels of the ring are engraved per the seven Ionian islands as described above, and the eight shield-shaped panel of the ring is engraved 1957