Amazing ring find and question.

[Atticis]

Hi all. I'm hoping to find any information as to the possible history of this ring. Incidentally this is also my very first ring so that is super awesome. It was found on a known civil war camp site in Southeast Louisiana which also was a plantation site. It is a signet ring and the inscription reads TIMOR DOMINI FONS VITAE (mirrored) and has what looks to be a falcon atop 3 ostrich feathers. No hallmarks but it is definitely gold. Not sure of the stone itself. Searching online has not provided much in the way of information. Thanks

 

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[crashbandicoot]

Hi all. I'm hoping to find any information as to the possible history of this ring. Incidentally this is also my very first ring so that is super awesome. It was found on a known civil war camp site in Southeast Louisiana which also was a plantation site. It is a signet ring and the inscription reads TIMOR DOMINI FONS VITAE (mirrored) and has what looks to be a falcon atop 3 ostrich feathers. No hallmarks but it is definitely gold. Not sure of the stone itself. Searching online has not provided much in the way of information. Thanks

The translation is "The fear of the lord is a fountain of life" according to a brief search.No specifics on the ring or the heraldry.

 

[devldog]

That is one pretty ring and a great save. Congrat's

 

[Atticis]

The translation is "The fear of the lord is a fountain of life" according to a brief search.No specifics on the ring or the heraldry.

Right. Thats what I came up with as well. Just figured I'd give it a shot here. Maybe someone with a bit more knowledge or resources could shed some light. Also not entirely sure of its actual age. Really just curious. Thanks!

 

[crashbandicoot]

Right. Thats what I came up with as well. Just figured I'd give it a shot here. Maybe someone with a bit more knowledge or resources could shed some light. Also not entirely sure of its actual age. Really just curious. Thanks!

RedCoat is probably the man you want for this ID.He may be along or you could PM him and ask him to take a look.He,s in England I believe so there,s a time difference.

 

[Atticis]

RedCoat is probably the man you want for this ID.He may be along or you could PM him and ask him to take a look.He,s in England I believe so there,s a time differenc

RedCoat is probably the man you want for this ID.He may be along or you could PM him and ask him to take a look.He,s in England I believe so there,s a time difference.

Cool deal. I'll just let it sit for the time being. Going to try and talk to the head of the history dept of the college here in town and see if they might be able to shed some light. Might give them a PM if they don't see it first though.

 

[Ia.FurTrade]

I suspect you have some real history there!
Congrat's on a great find!!

Iowa Dale

 

[Red-Coat]

Very nice indeed but really difficult to date. I’m going to guess first part of the 1800s and pre-Victorian. The seal looks like it might be carved from carnelian.

The “TIMOR DOMINI FONS VITAE” (The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life) is a biblical quote from Proverbs 14:27, so it’s generic and has seen wide usage as a ‘motto’. It was used on English Tudor gold coins for example.

There have been families using it as their own motto and the crest has some resemblance to that used by some members of the Butler and Arcedeckne-Butler families:



The heraldic blazon in those cases is: “Out of a Ducal Coronet a Plume of Five Ostrich-Feathers, and rising therefrom a Demi-Falcon with Wings Expanded and Inverted, all proper.” Not an exact match but I would guess this is someone’s crest rather than being generic, although lacking a coronet and its oft-associated implication of nobility.

 

[traveller777]

Hi all. I'm hoping to find any information as to the possible history of this ring. Incidentally this is also my very first ring so that is super awesome. It was found on a known civil war camp site in Southeast Louisiana which also was a plantation site. It is a signet ring and the inscription reads TIMOR DOMINI FONS VITAE (mirrored) and has what looks to be a falcon atop 3 ostrich feathers. No hallmarks but it is definitely gold. Not sure of the stone itself. Searching online has not provided much in the way of information. Thanks

You probably know, but the translation is, "The fear of the Lord is the fountain of life." I am sure someone will be along to help you. Nice find.

Very nice indeed but really difficult to date. I’m going to guess first part of the 1800s and pre-Victorian. The seal looks like it might be carved from carnelian.

The “TIMOR DOMINI FONS VITAE” (The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life) is a biblical quote from Proverbs 14:27, so it’s generic and has seen wide usage as a ‘motto’. It was used on English Tudor gold coins for example.

There have been families using it as their own motto and the crest has some resemblance to that used by some members of the Butler and Arcedeckne-Butler families:

View attachment 2005768

The heraldic blazon in those cases is: “Out of a Ducal Coronet a Plume of Five Ostrich-Feathers, and rising therefrom a Demi-Falcon with Wings Expanded and Inverted, all proper.” Not an exact match but I would guess this is someone’s crest rather than being generic, although lacking a coronet and its oft-associated implication of nobility.

Nice job Red_Coat.

 

[Atticis]

Exactly the info I had found. That name Butler kinda gave me pause to be honest. Civil War site and all. Haha. Thanks for the help!

 

[Red-Coat]

Exactly the info I had found. That name Butler kinda gave me pause to be honest. Civil War site and all. Haha. Thanks for the help!

You're welcome. You might try researching the names of plantation owners in your find area, and especially those who came originally from England. I would think this ring was made in America rather than in England, but probably custom-made for someone who had family heritage here.

PS: welcome to Tnet.

 

[Atticis]

You're welcome. You might try researching the names of plantation owners in your find area, and especially those who came originally from England. I would think this ring was made in America rather than in England, but probably custom-made for someone who had family heritage here.

PS: welcome to Tnet.

Well I doesn't match any of the owners of the property, which was a plantation, it was found on as far as I can tell looking back to the early 1800s. I'm surely going to keep looking though!

 

[Red-Coat]

Well I doesn't match any of the owners of the property, which was a plantation, it was found on as far as I can tell looking back to the early 1800s. I'm surely going to keep looking though!

Good luck. Don't assume you're looking for a "Butler" though. The nature of crests like this is that elements of them became incorporated into the crests of other individuals by marriage. Start with the family names you can find and then look for crests they may have used... rather than the other way round (if that makes sense).

This wouldn't have been a cheap thing to have made, so I think you're looking for someone with a bit of wealth and plantation ownership would be a good start.

 

[releventchair]

Not saying this family has anything to do with the ring.
just an example of what can come up in a search.

https://lsupress.org/books/detail/butlers-of-iberville-parish-louisiana/

 

[Atticis]

Right right. Hopefully a local historian can help a bit there. I've been looking at so many family crests since I dug this its crazy haha. I have a feeling this is going to be a lengthy search but rewarding nonetheless.

 

[crashbandicoot]

Not saying this family has anything to do with the ring.
just an example of what can come up in a search.

https://lsupress.org/books/detail/butlers-of-iberville-parish-louisiana/

Thanks releventchair.

 

[Digger RJ]

Hi all. I'm hoping to find any information as to the possible history of this ring. Incidentally this is also my very first ring so that is super awesome. It was found on a known civil war camp site in Southeast Louisiana which also was a plantation site. It is a signet ring and the inscription reads TIMOR DOMINI FONS VITAE (mirrored) and has what looks to be a falcon atop 3 ostrich feathers. No hallmarks but it is definitely gold. Not sure of the stone itself. Searching online has not provided much in the way of information. Thanks

Very Nice!!! Congrats!!!!

 

[Red_desert]

Interesting ring find! Congrats!!!

 

[DocBeav]

Are there any stamps or marks inside the ring? That may give you a better idea of age.

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Congrats on a great find !
If I remember right - a lot (or all) Gold jewelry made before 1900 was not stamped with Karat numbers ?